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CoastalScrapeSmall · 43 g
ID tip
Saunders's tern shares many of the features of its close relative, the little tern, including a white body, a black-tipped yellow bill, and a black cap with a white forehead patch. In its breeding plumage, it distinguishes itself with a straight-bordered forehead patch, possessing more black outer primaries, and duskier colored legs and feet in comparison to the bright yellow legs of the little tern. In non-breeding plumage, the two are very similar. Saunders's tern is 20–28 cm (8–11 in) long, weighs 40–45 grams (1.4–1.6 oz), and possesses a wingspan of 50–55 cm (20–22 in).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Saunders's Tern
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Saunders's Tern
The map shades 19 countries with regular records, and 3 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 South Africa, Somalia, Mayotte.
About the Saunders's Tern
Saunders's tern, sometimes known as the black-shafted tern, is a species of bird in the family Laridae. It is sparsely resident along the shores of the north-western Indian Ocean.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Damara TernSternula balaenarumAt 23 centimetres or 9.1 inches in length the Damara tern is a small, rather pale tern.
Peruvian TernSternula lorataThe Peruvian tern is a very small species with a length of about 24 cm (9.4 in).
Fairy TernSternula nereisThe fairy tern is a small tern with a white body and light bluish-grey wings.
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