White-winged Black Tern

White-winged Black Terns, along with Black Terns and Whiskered Terns C. hybrida, form a group of smallish terns called marsh terns - they all use vegetated wetlands as habitat.

Identification

The White-winged Black Tern is one of the smaller terns, and the smallest of the three marsh terns. It is most often seen in its non-breeding plumage of grey back and tail, whitish underwings and underparts. The bill is black, and the head has a variable black horseshoe over the top of the crown and behind the eye. The legs are pinkish black. Many birds acquire their breeding plumage before departing for Eurasia in autumn. In breeding plumage the bill and legs are red, the head and body black, and the wings are grey with a white shoulder and black wing-linings.

The White-winged Black Tern is also known as the White-winged Tern.

Habitat

White-winged Black Terns are found in small to large flocks on mostly coastal or sub-coastal wetlands including tidal estuaries, lagoons, grassy swamps, and sewage ponds.

Distribution

The White-winged Black Tern is found in the coastal and sub-coastal north, east, and south-east of the Australian mainland, and the north and east of Tasmania.

Feeding and diet

White-winged Black Terns feed on insects, spiders and fish. They forage by hawking (i.e. feeding on the wing), dipping (flying 2-4 m above the water then dipping down to take items on or just below the surface of the water), and plunging (shallow dives from 2-4 m).

Communication

Buzzing and rapid short cries ('kik-kik-kik').

Breeding Behaviour/s

White-winged Black Terns do not breed in Australia.

Breeding Season: Do not breed in Australia.

Seasonality

White-winged Black Terns breed in northern Eurasia, and are non-breeding summer migrants to Australia as well as to Indonesia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and Africa. Some birds overwinter in Australia in their breeding plumage.

Economic/social impacts

White-winged Black Terns live on sewage ponds.