Common name: Lesser Crested Tern
Scientific name: Thalasseus bengalensis
Family: Laridae

Size:
Body length: 33–43 cm
Wingspan: 85–100 cm
Weight: 180–260 g

Identification:
A medium-sized tern with a slender body, long pointed wings, and a slightly shaggy black crest. The upperparts are pale grey, while the underparts are white. It has a long, slender orange to yellowish-orange bill and dark legs. In non-breeding plumage, the black crest becomes less pronounced with a more mottled head. Often confused with the Greater Crested Tern but smaller and more delicate.

Habitat:
Coastal environments including sandy beaches, offshore islands, lagoons, estuaries, and open sea.

Status in the UAE:
Common resident and breeder, especially along coastal islands and protected areas.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds mainly on small fish, caught by plunge-diving.

Behavior:
Often seen in flocks, sometimes large, especially near breeding colonies. Hunts by flying over water and diving to catch fish. Strong and graceful in flight. Nests in colonies on sandy islands.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)