Aleutian Tern

Aleutian Tern

Scientific Name: Onychoprion aleuticus

Malay Name: Camar Batu Kelabu

Chinese Name: 白腰燕鸥

Range: Found from Siberia to Alaska, wintering to Southern China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Indonesia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 32-34 cm

Identification: A medium-size tern with greyish upperparts, white rump and long deeply, forked tail, discontinuous dark band on under trailing edge and all black pointed bill. When in breeding plumage, white forehead contrasts with black eyestripe, hindcrown and nape. Crown of non-breeding bird mostly white with blackish ear-coverts and nape. Juvenile resembles non-breeding adult but has dark brown subterminal markings on upperparts.

Similar looking species: Common Tern

Habitat: Open seas.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds by plunge-diving. Often perches on floating objects and debris.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2020)

Location: Singapore Strait

Featured reports: May 2022, Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Sep 2023, Oct 2023

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Aleutian Tern Onychoprion aleuticus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Oct 08-Oct 14
Early date 20 Aug 2011
Late date 15 May 2011
A pelagic trip in Sep or Oct will be your best bet to see this species, which passes through Singapore during these months.
Non-breeding Aleutian Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Aleutian Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Aleutian Tern in breeding plumage at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Aleutian Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Aleutian Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Aleutian Tern in breeding plumage at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Aleutian Tern in breeding plumage at Singapore Strait. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Aleutian Tern)

References:

BirdLife International. (2020). Onychoprion aleuticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22694716A178964431.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

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.). Aleutian Tern. Retrieved on November 15, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/aleutian-tern.

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