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A medium-sized tern with entirely white plumage, a slightly forked tail, and glittering inky pools for eyes.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers
SizeMedium
RarityRare
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMorning coastal watches and tide changes that concentrate feeding activity.
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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