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10

Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana) Size: 30-32 cm; wing span ca. 60 cm Weight: 90-120 g

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Similar species

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

Physical description 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. Twitcher's tip 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.

Taxonomy, classification See Black-naped Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species 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 . The global distribution of the Black-naped Tern is available HERE . 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.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "sumatrana" 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.

Photos

Race "sumatrana"

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

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.

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