White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus Order: CHARADRIIFORMES Family: Skuas, Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)

Breeding Location:

Wetlands



Breeding Type:

Monogamous



Breeding Population:

Accidental in North America



Egg Color:

Brown to dark brown with black brown blotches



Number of Eggs:

3



Incubation Days:

17 - 22



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Lined with grasses.



Migration:

Migratory



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Overview

White-winged Tern: Small tern, black head, body, and underwing coverts; white rump, vent, upperwing coverts, and tail; flight feathers are pale gray. Bill is dark red to black; Red legs and feet. Fluttering, uneven flight with slow, shallow wing beats. Hovers before dipping for prey.

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.

Breeding and Nesting

White-winged Tern: Three brown to dark brown eggs with black brown blotches are laid on a mat of floating marsh vegetation or dead grass. Incubation ranges from 17 to 22 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

White-winged Tern: Feeds on insects, small fish, invertebrates, crabs, and shrimp. Often forages while flying into the wind, then drifts downwind to repeat the maneuver; also plunge dives, surface snatches, and skims.

Vocalization

White-winged Tern: Emits a hoarse "kersch" or "kreek" contact call, deeper and more grating than Black Tern.

Similar Species

White-winged Tern: Other short-tailed terns lack black bodies and white wings.

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Family Tern (Laridae)_blue
Species Chlidonias leucopterus
Length9 Inches
Wingspan22 Inches

White-winged Tern

White-winged Tern: Small tern, black head, body, and underwing coverts; white rump, vent, upperwing coverts, and tail; flight feathers are pale gray. Bill is dark red to black; Red legs and feet. Fluttering, uneven flight with slow, shallow wing beats. Hovers before dipping for prey.

● Song: "kersch", "kreek"

● Foraging & Feeding: White-winged Tern: Feeds on insects, small fish, invertebrates, crabs, and shrimp. Often forages while flying into the wind, then drifts downwind to repeat the maneuver; also plunge dives, surface snatches, and skims.

● Breeding & nesting: White-winged Tern: Three brown to dark brown eggs with black brown blotches are laid on a mat of floating marsh vegetation or dead grass. Incubation ranges from 17 to 22 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: White-winged Tern: Other short-tailed terns lack black bodies and white wings.

Flight Pattern

Direct flight with rapid wing beats.
White-winged Tern Breeding Adult Body Illustration
● Range & 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.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationAccidental in North America
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.9 Ounces