BirdUp · Species
White-fronted Tern
Sterna striataGmelin, JF, 1789
At a glance
The White-fronted Tern is a large bird, about 35–43 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.
- Size
- 35–43 cm
- Origin
- Native
- Best seen
- Year-round
- Commonness
- Very common
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
What does a White-fronted Tern look like?
The White-fronted Tern is a large bird, about 35–43 cm long.
The white-fronted tern, also known as tara, sea swallow, black-billed tern, kahawai bird, southern tern, or swallow tail, was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789. A medium-sized tern with an all-white body including underwing and forked tail, with pale grey hues on the mantle and upper side of the wing. In breeding adults a striking black cap covers the head from forehead to nape, leaving a small white strip above the black bill.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
03 · When
When to look
When can you see a White-fronted Tern?
The White-fronted Tern is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
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