The Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) is a slender, elegant seabird that breeds along tropical and subtropical coasts, including islands in the UAE. Recognizable by its sharp contrast of dark greyish-black upperparts and white underparts, it features a distinctive white forehead and eyebrow stripe that separates the black cap from the rest of the face — giving it the "bridled" appearance. Unlike other terns, the Bridled Tern prefers rocky or coral islets, where it nests in crevices or under vegetation for shade. Its flight is graceful and buoyant, often seen gliding low over the sea or perched in small groups. A summer breeder in the UAE, it migrates after the nesting season, spending much of the year far offshore in the Indian Ocean.