Marie Read / Elegant Tern (Sterna / Thalasseus elegans), jumping out of the water after diving unsuccessfully for fish. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Elegant Tern (Sterna / Thallaseus elegans), in flight, dripping water after diving for fish. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Elegant Tern (Sterna / Thalasseus elegans) shaking water droplets off its feathers in midair after diving for fish. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, July.

Marie Read / Elegant Tern (Sterna / Thalasseus elegans) fighting in midair. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, July. (Digitally retouched image / wingtip at left & space added)

Murray Cooper / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) landing amid flock, Ecuador

Gerrit Vyn / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus / Sterna elegans) in flight, non-breeding plumage, Monterey County, California, USA, November.

Gerrit Vyn / Elegant Tern (Sterna / Thalasseus elegans) in non-breeding plumage. Monterey County, California, USA, November.

Claudio Contreras / Elegant tern (Sterna / Thalasseus elegans) pair performing courtship dance amongst breeding colony, Rasa Island Special Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Elegant terns (Sterna / Thalasseus elegans) mating pair amongst breeding colony, Rasa Island Special Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Elegant tern (Thalasseus / Sterna elegans) pair courtship display, Rasa Island Special Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Elegant tern (Thalasseus / Sterna elegans) pair performing courtship dance, excluding a third tern, Rasa Island Special Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Elegant tern (Thalasseus / Sterna elegans) calling, Rasa Island Special Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Elegant tern (Thalasseus / Sterna elegans) colony, Rasa Island Special Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) Mexico, April/January.

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) diving for fish, Elkhorn Slough, Monterey Bay, California

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) foraging, Elkhorn Slough, Monterey Bay, California

Kevin Schafer / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) group, Rasa Island, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Kevin Schafer / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) group gathering at waters edge before breeding, Rasa Island, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Mitsuaki Iwago / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) nesting colony

Konrad Wothe / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) landing on beach among other terns, Florida

Pete Oxford / Gulls and Terns flocking on beach, Gray / Grey-hooded Gull {Larus cirrocephalus} Laughing Gull {Larus atricilla} Sandwich Tern {Sterna sandvicensis}and Elegant Tern {Sterna elegans} San Pablo Beach, G...

Hiroya Minakuchi / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) breeding colony, Isla Rasa, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico

Hiroya Minakuchi / Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) flying with fish in beak, Isla Raza, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico