Fairy Tern

Sternula nereisGould, 1843

Also known asDjit-jeet

VulnerableNative

Order: CHARADRIIFORMES
Family: Laridae
Genus: Sternula

Conservation: Vulnerable
Commonness: Rare
Best seen: Year-round

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

The fairy tern is a small tern which is native to the southwestern Pacific. It is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and the New Zealand subspecies is critically endangered. Fairy terns live in colonies along the coastlines and estuaries of Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, feeding largely on small, epipelagic schooling fishes, breeding in areas close to their feeding sites. They have a monogamous mating system, forming breeding pairs in which they mate, nest, and care for offspring.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length: 22–27 cm
Weight: 57–81 g
Wingspan: 43 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

Watch for courtship feeding during the breeding season, where the male carries a small fish crosswise in its bill to present to a female during ground displays.

flight

Identified by frequent, stationary hovering 5–15 metres above the water surface with rapid, shallow wingbeats before dropping.

plumage

The black crown terminates abruptly at the eye, resulting in a large, clean white forehead that is visible even from a distance.
Breeding adults show a solid orange-yellow bill, while non-breeding birds have a duller bill with black markings at both the tip and the base.

size_and_shape

The bill is exceptionally fine and needle-like, appearing long and sharp in proportion to the small, rounded head.

02 · Where

Where to find it

Breeding range: West, south and south-east Australia, Tasmania, north North I. (New Zealand) and New Caledonia
Non-breeding range: Sedentary to locally dispersive within breeding regions

03 · When

When to look

Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

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How to tell it apart

Where to find it

When to look

Habits and haunts

Diet & foraging

Habitats

Range notes

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