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Aleutian Tern

Sterna aleuticaOrder: CHARADRIIFORMESFamily: Skuas, Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)

Breeding Location:

Coastal bays



Breeding Type:

Monogamous



Breeding Population:

Uncommon to locally common



Egg Color:

Olive to buff with dark brown markings



Number of Eggs:

1 - 3



Incubation Days:

22 - 23



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

Lined with plant material.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Aleutian Tern: A medium tern, with white forehead, black cap, bill, and legs, gray under and upperparts, white rump and tail. Undertail coverts, cheeks, and area below cap are white. Wing projects beyond tip of tail at rest. Strong direct flight with deep wing beats, often high above water.

Range and Habitat

Aleutian Tern: This bird breeds in coastal areas of southern and western Alaska. Breeding colonies located along coast of Chukchi Sea, on Seward Peninsula, along Alaska Peninsula, in widely scattered locations in Aleutian Islands, in Kodiak Archipelago, on Kenai Peninsula and Copper River delta, and along Gulf of Alaska. Breeding colonies are located on flat vegetated islands, dwarf-shrub tundra, grass and sedge meadows, sandy spits and islands, and freshwater marshes. Aleutian Tern is not known to winter in North America.

Breeding and Nesting

Aleutian Tern: One to three olive to buff eggs with dark brown markings are laid in a depression on the ground, near water. Nest is lined with plant matter, including moss and matted grasses. Incubation ranges from 22 to 23 days and is carried out by both sexes. Both parents feed the young.

Foraging and Feeding

Aleutian Tern: Usually forages in shallow water, including tidal rips, along rivers, and over inshore marine waters. Occasionally adults and fledglings catch insects by hawking over freshwater ponds and marshes. Searches for food from moderate heights, by swooping down to pick prey items from the surface; by hovering and diving to shallow depths; and by sitting on the surface and dipping. Eats primarily fish and zooplankton.

Vocalization

Aleutian Tern: Call is a carrying staccato "chif-chif-chu-ak", which is more shorebird-like than ternlike. Also gives a short, sharp "chit." Calls from the air and on the ground at colonies. Generally silent while incubating.

Similar Species

Aleutian Tern: In Alaska, it might be confused with similarly-sized Arctic and Common Terns. The Aleutian Tern has a distinctive white forehead and a dark bar on the secondaries while Arctic Tern Breeding Adult has a black forehead and crown which extend onto nape.

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Family
Species Sterna aleutica
Length13 - 15 Inches
Wingspan30.5 Inches

Aleutian Tern

Aleutian Tern: A medium tern, with white forehead, black cap, bill, and legs, gray under and upperparts, white rump and tail. Undertail coverts, cheeks, and area below cap are white. Wing projects beyond tip of tail at rest. Strong direct flight with deep wing beats, often high above water.

● Song: "twee-ee-ee, chif-chu-ak", "chip"

● Foraging & Feeding: Aleutian Tern: Usually forages in shallow water, including tidal rips, along rivers, and over inshore marine waters. Occasionally adults and fledglings catch insects by hawking over freshwater ponds and marshes. Searches for food from moderate heights, by swooping down to pick prey items from the surface; by hovering and diving to shallow depths; and by sitting on the surface and dipping. Eats primarily fish and zooplankton.

● Breeding & nesting: Aleutian Tern: One to three olive to buff eggs with dark brown markings are laid in a depression on the ground, near water. Nest is lined with plant matter, including moss and matted grasses. Incubation ranges from 22 to 23 days and is carried out by both sexes. Both parents feed the young.

● Similar species: Aleutian Tern: In Alaska, it might be confused with similarly-sized Arctic and Common Terns. The Aleutian Tern has a distinctive white forehead and a dark bar on the secondaries while Arctic Tern Breeding Adult has a black forehead and crown which extend onto nape.

Flight Pattern

Strong direct flight with graceful deep wing beats often high above water., Often hovers before dipping into water for food.
Aleutian Tern: Breeding Adult
● Range & Habitat: Aleutian Tern: This bird breeds in coastal areas of southern and western Alaska. Breeding colonies located along coast of Chukchi Sea, on Seward Peninsula, along Alaska Peninsula, in widely scattered locations in Aleutian Islands, in Kodiak Archipelago, on Kenai Peninsula and Copper River delta, and along Gulf of Alaska. Breeding colonies are located on flat vegetated islands, dwarf-shrub tundra, grass and sedge meadows, sandy spits and islands, and freshwater marshes. Aleutian Tern is not known to winter in North America.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationUncommon to locally common
MigrationMigratory
Weight4.2 Ounces