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Black-naped Tern
(Sterna sumatrana)
Size: 30-32 cm; wing span ca. 60 cm
Weight: 90-120 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Black-naped Terns are medium-sized terns.
During the
breeding season they have glossy plumage. They have a white cap
and a thin black crescent around the nape of the neck. The
front (throat, neck, chest, belly and vent) is white and the
wings are grey. The black eyes are surrounded by the black
crescent, while the frons (base of the bill) is white.
The very slender bill is black, the short legs and feet are also black.
In eclipse
the plumage becomes
a bit duller, but is still glossier than that of other non-breeding
terns of similar size. Otherwise it remains the same.
Juvenile
birds have mottled dark brownish-grey wings with lighter
brown edge lining, and a lightly black-and-white streaked back of
the head.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared to other, similar
Terns, especially in non-breeding plumage, Black-naped Terns have
the thinnest black crescents around the neck. Their entire crown
is white.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Black-naped
Tern at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Black-naped Tern is available
HERE
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Black-naped Terns are found in tropical and subtropical waters
of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, from the small
islands
to the North of Madagascar in the West to Papeete in the East.
They are most commonly found on islands in that range and along
the coastal fringe of south-eastern Asia.
Only nominate race
"sumatrana"
is present in Australia. They are found along the northern coastline,
from about the NSW/QLD border in the East, all
along the QLD coastline, in the Gulf of Carpentaria and to the
North of it, and farther to the North-West, up to the Australian
islands in the
Timor Sea.
Black-naped Terns breed on tropical and subtropical islands and spend most of the
rest of their lives on the open seas or above coastal waters.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
H. Mouritsen reports spotting White-naped Terns, race "sumatrana", on One Tree
Island, Capricornia Cays NP, near Rockhampton, QLD, in January 2011.
M. Mearns reports sighting White-naped Terns, race "sumatrana",
on Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, in January 2016.
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Photos |
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Race "sumatrana"
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
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Frontal view of a Black-naped Tern; note the glossy sheen of
the plumage, which
distinguishes the species from the non-breeding plumage of other, similar species
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]
Near-lateral view of a Black-naped Tern
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]
Close-up lateral view of a Black-naped Tern
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]
Lateral view of two Black-naped Terns
(photo courtesy of H. Mouritsen)
[One Tree Island, Capricornia Cays NP, QLD, January 2011]
Black-naped Terns on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]
Near-frontal view of a Black-naped Tern in flight (photo courtesy of H.
Mouritsen)
[One Tree Island, Capricornia Cays NP, QLD, January 2011]
Lateral view of a Black-naped Tern in flight (photo courtesy of H. Mouritsen)
[One Tree Island, Capricornia Cays NP, QLD, January 2011]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.