Scientific Name: Sterna sumatrana
Malay Name: Camar Tengkuk Hitam
Chinese Name: 黑枕燕鸥
Range: Found from the coasts of Indian subcontinent to southern China, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia and western Pacific
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: mathewsi, sumatrana.
Local Subspecies: sumatrana
Size: 30-35 cm
Identification: Adult has white head, neck, breast and underparts with narrow black band from eyes to hindnape, dark pinkish legs and feet which appeared blackish from far, all black bill and whitish-grey mantle and upperwings. Juvenile resembles adult but has blackish subterminal markings on mantle feathers, scapulars and tertials .
Similar looking species: Gull-billed Tern
Habitat: Sea-coasts and open seas.
Behaviour/Ecology: Nest is a scrape on ground or eggs laid on bare rock.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)
Location: Changi, Pasir Ris Park, Pulau Ubin, Straits of Johor and Straits of Singapore.
- Pelagic Bird Trip at the Singapore Strait – 20 September 2020 (Trip Reports)
- Pelagic Bird Survey at the Singapore Strait – 5 May 2018 (Trip Reports)
- Pelagic Bird Survey to the Horsburgh Lighthouse – 29 April 2017 (Trip Reports)
- Pelagic Bird Survey at the Singapore Strait – 15 October 2016 (Trip Reports)
- Loke Wan Tho – A Company of Birds (Blog)
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
- Identifying Marsh Terns in Singapore (ID Articles)
Featured reports: Apr 2022, May 2022, Jun 2022, Jul 2022, Aug 2022, Sep 2022, Apr 2023, Jun 2023, Jul 2023, Aug 2023, Dec 2023, Mar 2024, Apr 2024, Jul 2024, Aug 2024, Sep 2024
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Black-naped Tern)
References:
BirdLife International. (2018). Sterna sumatrana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22694612A132561758.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Black-naped Tern. Retrieved on December 9, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/black-naped-tern.