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10

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) Alternate name(s): "Marsh Tern" Size: 24-28 cm; wing span: 57-63 cm Weight: 60-110 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 Whiskered Terns are medium-sized terns. During the breeding season they have a black cap that extends well onto the nape of the neck, white cheeks and light to medium grey front (neck, chest, belly and vent), of which usually the belly is darkest, and grey wings. The black eyes are surrounded by the black cap, while the frons (base of the bill) is also black. The bill, the short legs and feet are all dark-red. In eclipse the front and cap become white, with some mottled grey feathers above a dark-grey nape of the neck. The bill turns black when not breeding. Juvenile Whiskered Terns have dark leading and trailing edges to their wings and a black bill. Otherwise they resemble non-breeding adults. Twitcher's tip Especially when seen inland, their mid- to dark-grey front during the breeding season makes Whiskered Terns unique.

Taxonomy, classification See Whiskered 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 Whiskered Tern is available HERE . There are 3 races of Whiskered Terns, which are a partly migratory species. Nominate race "hybridus" breeds in the warmer parts of Europe and Asia, mostly from the northern Mediterranean coastline, but also the lower river Danube valley, eastwards into parts of inland eastern Europe and the northern shores of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. There are smaller breeding populations in parts of Asia Minor and along the southern coastline of the Caspian Sea. This race spends the northern winters in either southern Africa or along the Indian subcontinent. Race "javanicus" populates parts of Indonesia and Australia. This race is mostly dispersive, rather than migratory. Race "delalandii" is resident in eastern and southern Africa. In Australia only Whiskered Terns of race "javanicus" are found. They are most common in the south-eastern quarter of the continent, especially in the Murray-Darling Basin. They are found regularly in basically all of VIC and NSW, the eastern half of SA and parts of the West coast of WA and parts of central QLD. After substantial inland rainfall they disperse over most of the Australian continent, except the most arid part, i.e., the major sandy deserts of eastern WA, western SA and the south-western NT. Whiskered Terns can be found in estuaries and flooded saltmarshes, but also in the shallows of freshwater lakes and ephemeral lakes, especially with emerging vegetation.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "javanicus" We first found a couple of Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", in September 2010 at Narrabri Lake. The birds were heard calling each other while patrolling about 10 to 20 m above the water's surface. Later, in November 2010, a pair of Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", was seen at the same location in non-breeding plumage, together with two juvenile birds. One bird in breeding plumage was next seen at Narrabri Lake in November 2014 and again in November 2015. 8 Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", in breeding plumage were seen by us at Goran Lake, an ephemeral lake about 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, in February 2012. Again, their frequent squawking calls drew our attention to the birds. About 20-25 birds were observed by us at Mother of Ducks Lagoon NR, Guyra, NSW, in March 2012. Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", were also spotted by us at Lake Altiboulka, in far western NSW, about 95 km East of Tibooburra, in September 2012. R. Plumtree reports spotting Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", at Hollands Landing, Lake Victoria, East Gippsland, VIC, in October 2014, and at Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017, where they were found breeding at the time. J. Greaves reports spotting Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", at Yellow Water billabong, Kakadu NP, NT, in November 2014, and at Marlgu Billabong, Wyndham, WA, in January 2016. H. Mouritsen reports spotting Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", in three different locations near Darwin, NT, in October 2015. In December 2015 a group of about 12 Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", including one juvenile, was found at the Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW. M. Windeyer reports spotting a Whiskered Tern, race "javanicus", in breeding plumage on the Castlereagh River, Gilgandra, NSW, in January 2016. A small number of Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", in both breeding and non-breeding plumage, was found by us at Dangars Lagoon, near Uralla, NSW, in October 2018. M. Eaton reports finding Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", in both breeding and non-breeding plumage, at Atkinson Dam, near Lowood, QLD, in September/October 2019. After two years of severe drought, Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", were first found by us again in March 2020 at Goran Lake near Wee Waa, NSW. In November 2021, V. Collins found about 100-150 Whiskered Terns, race "javanicus", at Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW. Race "hybridus" Whiskered Terns, nominate race "hybridus", were found by us in Europe.

Photos

Race "javanicus"

ADULT

BREEDING

Sex unknown

Frontal view of Whiskered Terns in breeding plumage; click on image to see, for comparison, Australian Pelicans
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atkinson Dam, near Lowood, QLD, October 2019]

Whiskered Terns in breeding plumage, frontal view on the left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atkinson Dam, near Lowood, QLD, October 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage on the shore of an ephemeral lake
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Lateral view of Whiskered Terns in breeding plumage resting on the shore of an ephemeral lake
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of Whiskered Terns on the shore of an ephemeral lake, one with its wings stretched
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of two Whiskered Terns in breeding plumage, one perched, the other in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2021]

Dorsal view of Whiskered Terns at an irrigation farm dam (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, 2012]

Frontal view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage in flight, hovering just before dipping towards the surface of a fresh water lake
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, September 2010]

Frontal view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage in flight, banking at an extreme angle
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage hovering (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Marlgu Billabong, Wyndham, WA, January 2016]

Lateral view of a Whiskered Tern in flight, with the wings up
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, December 2015]

Here a view of the Whiskered Tern's upperwings
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage in flight in a coastal habitat (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, June 2019]

Lateral view of Whiskered Terns in flight; two in breeding plumage, one in eclipse (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2021]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Whiskered Terns in non-breeding plumages (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Whiskered Terns in various plumages (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Lateral view of a Whiskered Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2021]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Whiskered Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Dorsal view of a soaring Whiskered Tern in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Adult Whiskered Tern in non-breeding plumage (right), with a juvenile; note the adult bird's reddish legs
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Adult Whiskered Tern in non-breeding plumage (centre) with two juveniles
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

The same three Whiskered Terns as shown above, now hovering in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Juvenile Whiskered Tern stretching its wings (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Juvenile Whiskered Tern begging for food (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Juvenile Whiskered Terns resting near a breeding colony on the edge of an ephemeral lake
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

3 different Whiskered Tern plumages: breeding (right), non-breeding (left) and juvenile
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a juvenile Whiskered Tern in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Whiskered Tern in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Close-up near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Whiskered Tern with its wings angled, just before going into a dive
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Lateral view of a juvenile Whiskered Tern soaring
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2010]

Distant lateral view of a fledgling Whiskered Tern in flight (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Whiskered Tern chick resting in reeds (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Whiskered Tern feeding a chick "on the wing" (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Whiskered Tern feeding a chick (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Two Whiskered Tern chicks begging to be fed (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Dorsal view of a Whiskered Tern chick (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Whiskered Tern chick begging to be fed (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Omeo, Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2017]

Race "hybridus"

Photos of Whiskered Terns, nominate race "hybridus", were taken by us in Europe.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Jan

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 18 - 20 days

Fledging age: ca. 21(?) days

The breeding season depends on geographic latitude and on weather conditions. Given the right circumstances, e.g. after substantial inland rainfall, Whiskered Terns can, in principle, breed at any time of the year. In the tropical North the main breeding season is around February-April.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Grass stems, dry aquatic plants

Height above ground: N/A

Whiskered Tern nest with 3 eggs inside (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]

Distant view of a Whiskered Tern breeding colony on the edge of an ephemeral lake
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 37 x 27 mm

Colour: Off-white, with dark-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

The pattern and density of speckles can vary significantly.

Closer look at 3 Whiskered Tern eggs (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]

Behaviour

Juvenile Whiskered Terns normally remain in the area where they have hatched (usually in inland freshwater wetlands) until they have moulted out of juvenile plumage into adult plumage. Only then they normally leave the area.

Surprise detection of a juvenile Whiskered Tern (the small tern at the centre with the scalloped dark back), surrounded by two adults in non-breeding plumage and 3 other tern species, on a beach, away from where it must have hatched
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Whiskered Terns can congregate into substantial flocks of up to several hundred birds.

Flock of Whiskered Terns resting on the shore of an ephemeral lake; click on image to see the entire flock
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Mob of Whiskered Terns resting on aquatic plants in a lake (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2021]

Whiskered Terns in breeding plumage preening collectively
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Part of a flock of Whiskered Terns above an irrigation dam (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, October 2010]

Food, Diet

Like all terns, Whiskered Terns feed on fish, which they catch with their bills just under the surface of inland waters in a steep high-speed dive from considerable height. Seen by us to also take large insects, such as e.g. dragonflies.

Lateral view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage with its catch, a fish
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Lateral view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage that has picked up small prey from wheat chaff by the shore of an ephemeral lake
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage with its catch, a fish
[Goran Lake, NSW, January 2022]

Lateral view of two Whiskered Terns in breeding plumage, one perched, the other delivering a small fish
(photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2021]

Whiskered Terns in breeding plumage having just delivered a fish to its dependent young
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2022]

Whiskered Tern picking prey off mud on the wing (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, December 2019]

Whiskered Tern taking off with its prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, December 2019]

Whiskered Tern that has just caught a dragonfly; the hunting technique used to catch the insect was identical to that employed for catching fish

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

whstern_20220116_4.m4a	javanicus (NW NSW)	Contact call?	© MD
whstern_20220116_3.m4a	javanicus (NW NSW)	Contact calls?	© MD
whstern_20220116_2.m4a	javanicus (NW NSW)	Contact calls? (Q&A)	© MD
whstern_vc_20220130.m4a	javanicus (NW NSW)	Contact calls? (Q&A; in-flight)	© VC
whstern_20220116.m4a	javanicus (NW NSW)	Contact calls? (Q&A; mob)	© MD
whstern_vc_20211110_2.m4a	javanicus (NW NSW)	Various (hunting & feeding)	© VC
whstern_20220130.m4a	javanicus (NW NSW)	Various (juveniles? in-flight)	© MD

More Whiskered Tern sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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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