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10

Aleutian Tern

(Onychoprion aleuticus)
Size: 32-34 cm

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Aleutian Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Near-frontal view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage; note the fine white eye-ring (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral view of two Aleutian Terns in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Lateral view of two Aleutian Terns in non-breeding plumage, one of which is preening (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Yawn! It's been a long journey from the Aleutian Islands (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Near-dorsal view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Near-dorsal view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Near-dorsal view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Dorsal view of 3 Aleutian Terns in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2019]

Near-frontal view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage, right, with Little Terns, centre and left, and Common Terns, back, for comparison (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, February 2018]

Lateral view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage; click on image to see Little Terns and Common Terns for comparison (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, February 2018]

Two Aleutian Terns in non-breeding plumage, front right, with Little Terns and Common Terns for comparison
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, February 2018]

Lateral view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight; note the characteristic dark trailing edge on the inner wing - this, combined with the shape of the bill, the shape of the grey area on the back of the head and the forked tail [not visible here] characterize the species (photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2017]

Aleutian Tern, top, and Little Tern, bottom, both in non-breeding plumage, in flight (photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage, right, with a juvenile bird, left, on a sand bar
(photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2017]

Near-lateral view of an Aleutian Tern in non-breeding plumage, right, with a juvenile bird, left, on a sand bar; for comparison, the two birds at the centre are Red-necked Stints (photo courtesy of M. Roderick)
[Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar, NSW, December 2017]

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