Gulls and terns · Shorebirds
White-winged Tern
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Chlidonias leucopterus
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How to recognize it
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23 cm, wingspan 60–66 cm
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Black head and neck in breeding plumage
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White rump, tail, and trailing wing edge
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Low, buoyant flight over water, shallow wingbeats
About the species
The White-winged Tern looks light and compact, with long wings and short legs. In breeding plumage, the pale wings are the easiest thing to remember, while in winter it turns much quieter in tone.
It is almost always in motion, drifting low over water and only occasionally settling on the surface. It walks poorly, catches food on the wing, and gives a sharp, dry call, often like crackling or a brief “ki-ki-ki”.
Look for it around shallow marshes and other quiet waters with open stretches and reed stems. It feeds mainly on aquatic insects, but also takes grasshoppers, crickets, and sometimes small fish; in winter it leaves for warmer southern regions.
Where to find
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Along canal banks, pond edges, and reed fringes — White-winged Tern flies low over the water, picking insects from the surface.
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At marshy city margins and wet shoreline patches — look for its light, buoyant flight making tight turns above the reeds.
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By flooded meadows and damp vacant lots near water — it may briefly settle on floating plants or low tussocks.
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On quiet backwaters and gravel pits with shallow water — a small flock often keeps circling instead of landing.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Chlidonias leucopterus Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — White-winged tern Encyclopedia article