During the breeding season, this bird is absolutely stunning and impossible to mistake for any of its relatives. While other terns usually have white bodies and black caps, the white-winged tern does the exact opposite: it sports a deep, velvety jet-black body that contrasts sharply with its namesake “white wings.” To finish off this high-fashion look, it has a bright red beak and matching red legs that look like tiny, stylish boots.
While many of its cousins are battling ocean waves, this bird is a specialist of freshwater marshes, lakes, and even flooded rice paddies. Because of this, it has developed a very specific and elegant way of eating. You won’t see this bird “crash-diving” into deep water like a clumsy stone. Instead, it is an elite aerial acrobat. It “hawks” for food, meaning it snatches dragonflies and other insects right out of the air with incredible precision. If it does feed from the water, it gently dips its beak to pluck a snack off the surface while staying perfectly dry.
One of the most fascinating things about this bird is its incredible “seasonal wardrobe.” While its black-and-white breeding outfit is iconic, the white-winged tern is a master of disguise. Once the summer ends, it undergoes a total transformation, shedding its dark feathers for a more conservative grey-and-white look to blend in during its long travels. And those travels are nothing short of heroic. Despite being a relatively small and delicate-looking bird, it is a world-class traveler. These birds are known to fly staggering distances, migrating from the quiet marshes of Europe and Asia to the tropical wetlands of Africa, Australia, and even the Philippines.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua & Barbuda
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bosnia And Herz.
Botswana
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
China
Cocos Is. (Keeling)
Congo-Brazzaville
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
East Timor
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea
Kuwait
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Niger
Nigeria
Nort. Mariana Is.
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Réunion
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
São Tomé & Príncipe
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Turks & Caicos
Turkey
UAE
US Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
