Arctic Tern — Australian Bird Identification Guide | BetterBirding

Bird guideArctic Tern

Rarely seen away from breeding grounds on coastal islands or small ponds in the Arctic tundra.

Spot this species Read on Wikipedia

⚠️Not listed

At a glance

FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers

SizeMedium

RarityUncommon

HabitatIt can be found in coastal regions in cooler temperate parts of North America and Eurasia during the northern summer.

Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from October.

Sounds

Sound sample

0:000:00

Recorded by Scott Olmstead

Range map

Range map

Occurrence window

23approx hotspots

1967approx records

2states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Adults are pale gray with white cheek, black cap, and red bill and legs. Very similar to Common Tern; note shorter bill, shorter legs, gray belly, and paler gray wingtips with very limited dark tips. Young birds show partial black cap and black bill and legs; look for pale gray wingtips and stubbier legs to separate from Common Tern.

Behavior

Migrates offshore, heading for wintering grounds in Southern Hemisphere.

Gallery

Regional timing

New South Wales

Peak: April78 records

Western Australia

Peak: June to August26 records

Victoria

Peak: October190 records

South Australia

Peak: September to October17 records

Tasmania

Peak: October to November16 records

Queensland

Peak: April3 records

Commonly confused with

White-fronted TernSterna striataTail is long and quite forked. Cap in non-breeding birds is reduced above the eye, creating a white forehead. Juveniles are similar to adults in non-breeding plumage but have light brown mottling over their back. Immature birds can disperse in winter to southeastern Australia. Arctic Tern and Common Tern are similar, but rarely seen in New Zealand; White-fronted Tern is larger and has lighter plumage.→Antarctic TernSterna vittataBill and legs red. In non-breeding birds, cap reduced to just the area behind the eye, bill has dull pinkish color, and underparts are white. Breeds in the circumpolar subantarctic region. Generally known to stay close to their breeding sites. Migrating Arctic Tern could occur in the same area, but not in breeding plumage, and would show more prominent black markings on outer primaries. White-fronted Tern can be distinguished by its larger body, lighter coloring, and longer, thinner, all-black bill.→Great Crested TernThalasseus bergiiBlack cap does not extend down to the bill. Juvenile is scaly-looking with much more black on the back and wings. Similar Lesser Crested Tern is smaller with black cap extending down to the bill in breeding plumage.→