Adults are medium-sized terns with a black crown and a pale gray body. Subspecies vary in bill color; some Asian birds have all-black bills, while the majority have red bills with black tips. Black limited to the back of the neck, dark shoulder, and dark outer primaries are seen in first-year students. Like Arctic, Roseate, and Forster’s terns. Totally gray upperwings set it apart from breeding Forster’s Tern, which has a black ear patch. lighter-colored, slightly longer-billed, and shorter-tailed than the Arctic Tern. Generally darker and with shorter tails than the brilliant white Roseate Tern.