Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Endangered

Shorebirds

Black-fronted Tern

Chlidonias albostriatus

Black-fronted Tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of New Zealand Birds of New South Wales

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New Zealand Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New South Wales

See what's near you right now

The Black-fronted Tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 94.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

EN Endangered

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Chlidonias
Species albostriatus

Where it lives

Rivers of eastern South I. (New Zealand)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 94.7 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black-fronted Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Black-fronted Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Black-fronted Tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU rivers of e South I. (New Zealand).

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 94.7 g, with a wing length of about 24 cm and a tail of around 10.8 cm.

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 93,000 km².

Songs & calls

Black-fronted Tern — Call

Recorded by craig wilson Licence: CC BY 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black-fronted Tern?

The Black-fronted Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 94.7 g.

Where does the Black-fronted Tern live?

The Black-fronted Tern is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU rivers of e South I. (New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Black-fronted Tern belong to?

The Black-fronted Tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Black-fronted Tern eat?

The Black-fronted Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Black-fronted Tern migrate?

The Black-fronted Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Black-fronted Tern endangered?

It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

What sound does the Black-fronted Tern make?

1 real field recording of the Black-fronted Tern — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black-fronted Tern's range?

The Black-fronted Tern has a mapped global range of about 93,000 km².