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CoastalScrapeMedium · 218 g
ID tip
This is a fairly large and powerful tern, similar in size and general appearance to a Sandwich tern, but the short thick gull-like bill, broad wings, long legs and robust body are distinctive. The summer adult has pale grey upperparts, white underparts, a black cap, strong black bill and black legs. The call is a characteristic ker-wik. It is 33–42 cm (13–17 in) in length and 76–91 cm (30–36 in) in wingspan. Its weight ranges from 150–292 g (5.3–10.3 oz). It differs from the closely related gull-billed tern in being slightly larger, paler grey above, and with an obviously larger, heavier bill.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Australian Tern
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 11 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Australian Tern
The map shades 4 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Thailand, Timor-Leste.
About the Australian Tern
The Australian tern or Australian gull-billed tern is a tern in the family Laridae, native to Australia. The genus name is from Ancient Greek gelao, "to laugh", and khelidon, "swallow".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Side by side: Australian Tern vs Gull-billed Tern
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