Aleutian Tern
Onychoprion aleuticus
The Aleutian Tern is a rare migrant to Britain, typically seen during the summer months in the northernmost regions, and is often associated with coastal areas and islands. It is a subarctic breeder, spending most of the year in the Arctic regions, and its appearances in Britain are infrequent and usually involve individual birds.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Aleutian Tern in the field.
The Aleutian Tern can be identified by its black cap, white forehead, and black bill, legs, and feet, distinguishing it from similar species. Its overall plumage is grey and white, with a distinctive black cap and white forehead patch.
The Aleutian Tern is slightly smaller than a Common Tern, with a more compact body and shorter tail.
The male Aleutian Tern has a black cap, white forehead, and grey and white body plumage, with black bill, legs, and feet, and this plumage remains relatively consistent throughout the year.
The female Aleutian Tern is similar to the male, with no significant differences in plumage, making it challenging to distinguish between the sexes based on appearance alone.
The Aleutian Tern's call is a sharp, high-pitched "kip" or "tik" sound, often repeated in a series of short phrases.
Aleutian Terns are agile flyers, often hovering or making sharp, swift turns in pursuit of prey, and they typically feed on small fish, crustaceans, and insects over coastal waters.
The Aleutian Tern is often confused with the Arctic Tern, but can be distinguished by its white forehead and black bill, legs, and feet, which are red in the Arctic Tern during the breeding season.
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