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Elegant silvery tern with a thin black bill and large dark eyes.
VIC: Vulnerable
Indigenous: Grey Ternlet
At a glance
FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers
SizeMedium
RarityUncommon
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from February to March.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by A Xiong
Range map
Range map
60visible hotspots
351visible records
2states
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
Overview
Whitish head and underparts contrast with gray back and wings when at rest. When in flight, note short forked tail and dark edging on the underwings. Breeds colonially on rocky cliffs.
Behavior
Flutters daintily above the water’s surface, dipping down in pursuit of prey. Usually encountered in small to medium-sized flocks, foraging in coastal waters off islands.
Gallery