Bird Guide

Black-fronted Tern vs White-winged Tern

Black-fronted Tern (Chlidonias albostriatus)

Black-fronted Tern

Chlidonias albostriatus

Medium95 gCoastal

Black-fronted terns are considered medium-small in size. Adults measure 28–30 cm in length, with a 65–72 cm wingspan and an average weight of 95 g. They have short orange bills, short orange legs, and a body that is dark grey above and light grey below with a white rump and a distinctive black cap. During the non-breeding season, the black cap recedes and becomes flecked with white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Black-fronted Tern
Recorded by craig wilson · Call · Birchfield, Buller District, West Coast Region, New Zealand · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0
White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Small54 gWetland

Adult birds in summer have short red legs and a short black bill (small and stubby, measuring 22–25 mm from the feathers, decidedly shorter than the head), a black neck (often with a pale gray back) and belly, very dark grey back, with a white rump and light grey (almost white) tail, which often looks 'square' in juveniles. The face is tinged yellowish. The wings, as the name implies, are mainly white. The inner wing is grayish with brown-tipped coverts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: i_c_riddell · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-fronted Tern and White-winged Tern.