White-fronted Tern

Sterna striata Gmelin, JF, 1789

129 gWeight

The white-fronted tern (Sterna striata), also known as tara, sea swallow, black-billed tern, kahawai bird, southern tern, or swallow tail, was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789.

Busiest months: November · Most records: New Zealand, Australia

Near Threatened

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: November · Most records: New Zealand, Australia

White-fronted Tern has been recorded at 100 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Kaikoura – offshore – Albatross Encounter pelagicNew Zealand5,318 records
Tiritiri MatangiNew Zealand761 records
Foveaux StraitNew Zealand757 records

More places

Rakiura NP – Ulva IslandNew Zealand756 records
Ashley Estuary south endNew Zealand717 records
Miranda – main hide/LimeworksNew Zealand696 records
Ashley River EstuaryNew Zealand681 records
Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic TripAustralia611 records
Kaikoura – Point Kean Seal ColonyNew Zealand570 records
Muriwai Gannet ColonyNew Zealand564 records

Countries and regions with the most records

New Zealand Australia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The white-fronted tern (Sterna striata), also known as tara, sea swallow, black-billed tern, kahawai bird, southern tern, or swallow tail, was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789. A medium-sized tern with an all-white body including underwing and forked tail, with pale grey hues on the mantle and upper side of the wing. In breeding adults a striking black cap covers the head from forehead to nape, leaving a small white strip above the black bill.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the White-fronted Tern?

The White-fronted Tern weighs around 129 g.

Where does the White-fronted Tern live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: coasts and satellites of North, South, Stewart, Chatham (east of South Island) and Auckland islands (south of South Island; New Zealand); also (few) Furneaux group, eastern Bass Strait islands (Australia). It is most often recorded in New Zealand and Australia.

When is the best time to see the White-fronted Tern?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the White-fronted Tern endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the White-fronted Tern as Near Threatened.

What does the White-fronted Tern eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the White-fronted Tern in?

It belongs to the family Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae), order Charadriiformes.

At a glance

Weight: 129 g
Habitat: Coast & tidal flats
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: Feeds in the air
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Near Threatened

More measurements

Wing: 274 mm
Tail: 170 mm
Bill: 51 mm
Tarsus: 21 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: coasts and satellites of North, South, Stewart, Chatham (east of South Island) and Auckland islands (south of South Island; New Zealand); also (few) Furneaux group, eastern Bass Strait islands (Australia)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2