Seagulls or Terns?

[GlendaNS]

About 20 years ago these guys started showing up. What are they?
Any ideas?

[greencinacheeks]

they look like seagulls to me...terns have longer legs.
and also terns have a black patch on thre head

[RedFeather Hawk]

There are some types of gulls, too, which have black on their heads. There are definitely differences, though, if you look at things like beak shape.

Most terns look somewhat like this:



Terns have a pointier beak, and gulls' beaks tend to curve downward at the front, like this:



(Gulls' beaks are generally shorter, too.)

The birds in the picture posted above, are gulls. :) Not sure what kind, though. With both gulls and terns, it can be difficult to tell specific species, and I'm not well-trained enough on that. XD

[GlendaNS]

When I first noticed them I asked our DNR about them. They told me, they were some kind of Tern, they thought. I always thought they looked like gulls.
I am in Indiana, a LONG way from the ocean. LOL

[Lori~D]

Those are gulls. You will find them anywhere nowadays. Im from Florida - now Im in Ohio. Terns are bigger too. No terns up here.
Go to the Garbage dump and you will see more Gulls than a Florida beach