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Roseate Tern
(Sterna dougallii)
Size: 33-36 cm; wing span: 67-76 cm
Weight: 75-120 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Roseate Terns are medium-sized terns.
In breeding
plumage
they have a black top of the head, from the base of the
bill to the nape of the neck, white sides
of the neck and front and a pale-grey back. Some have
a pink tinge on the front/underparts.
During the
non-breeding
season only the back half of the head remains black, while the
forehead turns white. In the transition zone, above the eyes,
there is some black-and-white speckling.
The irises are dark.
The long, narrow and slightly downcurved bill is always
dark-grey to black in
eclipse.
It can have a red base during the
breeding
season. When rearing chicks the bill can become all-red.
Legs and feet are orange-red, in
eclipse
possibly also paler/more yellowish, but in all seasons
redder than those of similar
tern species.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Roseate
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 Roseate Tern is available
HERE
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There are several races of Roseate Terns (depending on authority,
3 to 5; for details refer to the relevant literature), which are a
partly migratory species.
Nominate race "dougallii" populates parts of the coastlines on both
sides of the North Atlantic.
Another population/race is sedentary around Madagascar and parts of the
East African coastline, migrating to breed along the coastlines of
Oman, Goa and Sri Lanka.
Race "gracilis"
is found in south-eastern Asia, where they are sedentary in the tropical
part of their range (from ca. Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines to
New Caledonia and northern Australia) and breeding migrants to the
subtropical coastlines of western and eastern Australia in the South
and China, Taiwan and islands towards southern Japan in the North.
In Australia only Roseate Terns of race
"gracilis"
are found breeding.
They occur only in coastal areas and their distribution ranges
from near Perth, WA, around the northern coastline of the
continent, to about Frazer Island, QLD.
In the northern, tropical part of their range they are sedentary,
in the subtropical part migratory.
They are uncommon in an area spanning from the Kimberley coast
to western Arnhemland and they are not found anywhere inland.
Members of race "bangsii" from East Asia may be found as
non-breeding migrants from the North.
Roseate Terns have a preference for coral reefs and other sparsely
vegetated islands,
where they breed in colonies on
beaches,
just above the high water mark, while hunting for fish in
coastal waters.
They spend much of the rest of the year on the
open oceans.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "gracilis"
B. Hensen reports spotting a Roseate Tern, race
"gracilis",
at Lee Point, Darwin, NT, in July 2018.
P. Brown found a Roseate Tern, race
"gracilis",
at Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, NT, in March 2023.
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Photos |
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Race "gracilis"
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
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Lateral view of a preening Roseate Tern moulting out of breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, NT, March 2023]
Lateral view of a Roseate Tern moulting out of breeding
plumage; note
the long tail streamers
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, NT, March 2023]
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NON-BREEDING |
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Frontal view of a Roseate Tern in non-breeding
plumage
(right; note the red legs), together with non-breeding
Whiskered Terns
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2018]
Lateral view of a Roseate Tern in non-breeding
plumage
(centre; note the red legs, the long thin bill and the pinkish
hue on the belly), together with a non-breeding
Common Tern (right)
and a Lesser Crested Tern
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2018]
Frontal view of a Roseate Tern in non-breeding
plumage
taking off (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2018]
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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
