General

Aleutian Tern: A medium-sized tern with white forehead, black cap, bill, and legs, and gray underparts and upperparts contrasting with pure white rump and tail. Undertail coverts, cheeks, and area immediately below cap are also white. Wing projects slightly beyond tip of tail at rest. In flight, underwing has dark subterminal bar on secondaries, pale area on inner primaries, and dark-tipped outer primaries; upperwing shows bold white leading edge and broad dusky lines on at least 5 to 6 outer primaries when spread. Juvenile is buff and brown on top and flanks, with pale gray underparts; legs and lower mandible are tinted red.

Range and Habitat

Aleutian Tern: This bird breeds in coastal areas of southern and western Alaska. Breeding colonies located along coast of Chukchi Sea, on Seward Peninsula, along Alaska Peninsula, in widely scattered locations in Aleutian Islands, in Kodiak Archipelago, on Kenai Peninsula and Copper River delta, and along Gulf of Alaska. Breeding colonies are located on flat vegetated islands, dwarf-shrub tundra, grass and sedge meadows, sandy spits and islands, and freshwater marshes. Aleutian Tern is not known to winter in North America.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"twee-ee-ee, chif-chu-ak", "chip"

Interesting Facts

 The Aleutian tern was first discovered on Kodiak Island and was named with the expectation that it would be found breeding in the Aleutians. It wasn't until years later that this theory was proven correct.

 They were once thought to be rare, but studies have documented more birds in recent years. Latest population estimates put their numbers at about 10,000.

 They usually nests among Arctic Terns, who are known to be defensive of their nests. The Aleutians are able to take advantage of this behavior, and make no attempt to defend their own nests.

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

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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