A medium-sized tern with entirely white plumage, a slightly forked tail, and glittering inky pools for eyes.
At a glance
Range map
Range map
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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
The bill is black with a blue base. Graceful and buoyant in flight. Breeds in trees and both natural and artificial ledges on coral islands. Sometimes flies very high in pairs or trios. Formerly considered a single species, White Tern, along with Atlantic and Little White-Terns; compare especially with Little White-Tern, which is slightly smaller and has an entirely black bill. No overlap with Atlantic White-Tern.
Behavior
Often seen offshore from boats, though most frequently encountered foraging over inshore waters or flying over trees near nesting areas.
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