Answer:

Answer: Being white-overall, with a pointed bill and narrow, pointed wings, we can safely say that this bird is a tern. Since it lacks a full black cap, this indicates that it is a younger or non-breeding bird. The dark bill and partial cap indicate that this is a Sterna tern, which includes Common, Arctic, and Forster’s as possibilities in Southern California. A look at the wing shows no carpal bar on the leading edge of the wing, the white edge on the outermost rectrix, and the dark around the eye does not connect at the nape, which rules out both Common and Arctic. The lingering brown in the wings show that this bird is an immature Forster’s Tern.

Congratulations to Ben, James, Henry M., Riley, Steven, Lily, Monte, Jake, and Adrian for figuring out Forster’s Tern!