General

White-winged Tern: Small tern with black head, body, and underwing coverts and white rump, vent, upperwing coverts, and tail; flight feathers are pale gray. Bill is dark red to black; legs and feet are red. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has pale gray upperparts, white head with dark-streaked hind crown, gray upperwings, white and gray underwings, white underparts, dark bill, and red legs. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has distinct brown and gray barred back.

Range and Habitat

White-winged Tern: Eurasian species; casual vagrant on the U.S. east coast, accidental inland, in Texas, and on the western Aleutian Islands. Spends winters in Africa. Preferred habitats include inland wetlands, coastal wetlands, and estuaries.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"kersch", "kreek"

Interesting Facts

 The White-winged Tern was first described in 1815 by Coenraad Jacob Temminck, a Dutch aristocrat and zoologist.

 In Britain the older name 'White-winged Black Tern' is still frequently used.

 This Eurasian vagrant attracts numerous birders whenever it appears, usually during fall migration.

 A group of terns are collectively known as a "ternery" or a "U" of terns.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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