Gull-billed Tern — Australian Bird Identification Guide

Bird guideGull-billed Tern

Very pale overall with black cap in breeding plumage.

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⚠️Not listed

🍃Indigenous: Gull-Billed Tern

At a glance

FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers

SizeMedium

RarityCommon

HabitatFound in marshier habitats than most other terns, in the Americas usually near the coast but not on the ocean (though also occasionally seen on beaches and mudflats); in Europe and Asia can also be found in wetlands well away from the coast.

Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from October to November.

Sounds

Sound sample

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Recorded by Esperanza Poveda

Range map

Occurrence window

349visible hotspots

2415visible records

5states

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

Legs black. Nonbreeding plumage shows dark cheek patch. Found in marshier habitats than most other terns, in the Americas usually near the coast but not on the ocean (though also occasionally seen on beaches and mudflats); in Europe and Asia can also be found in wetlands well away from the coast.

Behavior

Rarely seen in flocks with other terns; often single or in pairs. Feeds on invertebrates and crabs in mud and marshes; often patrols the edges of ponds but does not grab fish from the water like other terns.

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