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Very small coastal tern with forked tail.
NT: Critically Endangered
At a glance
FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from January to February.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Drew Davison
Range map
Range map
599visible hotspots
15979visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Behavior
Nests on sandy beaches, where it is sensitive to disturbance. Hunts by flying low over the water and plunging down to snatch prey from the surface.
Gallery