Sandwich Terns from central Texas:
1) An adult-type with more than the normal amount of yellow in the bill:
More images of the above bird:
2) A first-winter from September 20, 2008 that has retained a significant amount of orange in the bill (or could this be a hybrid?):
Two more September HY birds for comparison:
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4)
Three late July juveniles with extensive orange in the bill:
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6)
7)
8) - it is not that unusual to find a few juveniles from the same time-period with a limited amount of orangy yellow along the cutting edges of the bill:
9) a first-cycle from mid-October with some dull yellow in the bill:
