Black-naped Tern
Sterna sumatrana
The Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana) is a uncommon skimmers, noddies, terns, and gull found in 38 countries, weighing about 106 g. The black-naped tern is an oceanic tern mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
About the Black-naped Tern
The black-naped tern is an oceanic tern mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. They are rarely found inland. It was described from the islands around Sumatra. It is most closely related to roseate tern S. dougallii and white-fronted tern S. striata.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The black-naped tern is named from the black band beginning at the eyes connecting behind the head and descending the back of the neck. The rest of their plumage is white, with pale silvery-grey wings and mantle, apart from the outermost primary feather which has a narrow black outer web. The tail is white, and deeply forked, extending (like the related roseate and white-fronted terns) beyond the wingtips on perched birds. The beaks and legs are black. They have a body length of 30–35 cm and a wingspan of 66 cm. Adults weigh between 97 and 120 g. Hatchlings are mottled brown. Voice: This tern calls with short, high-pitched, repeated sharp notes; "chit", "chip", "chrrut", "tsip".
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Myanmar (Burma), Timor-Leste, Mayotte, Sri Lanka, Nauru, Tokelau.
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in May. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-naped Tern?
- The black-naped tern is named from the black band beginning at the eyes connecting behind the head and descending the back of the neck. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-naped Tern?
- The Black-naped Tern is a medium sized bird weighing about 106 g.
- Where can you see a Black-naped Tern?
- The Black-naped Tern occurs in 38 countries, including Taiwan, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and India.
- What birds look similar to a Black-naped Tern?
- The Black-naped Tern is most easily confused with the Snowy-crowned Tern, the White-cheeked Tern and the Antarctic Tern.
- Is the Black-naped Tern endangered?
- The Black-naped Tern is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-naped Tern for real
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