Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern

Scientific Name: Onychoprion anaethetus

Malay Name: Camar Batu Biasa

Chinese Name: 褐翅燕鸥

Range: Found along the coasts and offshore islands of Africa to Indian Ocean, Arabian Peninsula, southern China, Southeast Asia, Australia, Central and South America

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: melanopterus, antarcticus, anaethetus, nelsoni.

Local Subspecies: anaethetus

Size: 37-42 cm

Identification: Non-breeding adult has dark brownish-grey upper side, thin whitish nuchal band, whitish forehead-patch, blackish crown, nape and mask, deeply forked tail and blackish bill, legs and feet. Breeding adult has clean white forehead and short eyebrow contrast with black eyestripe, crown and nape. Juvenile resembles non-breeding adult but has whitish tips and dark subterminal bars on upperparts and wing-coverts.

Habitat: Open seas.

Behaviour/Ecology: Seldom dives, preferring to pick up food material from the water surface. Feeds in the open seas, rarely coming to coastal waters.

Local Status: Uncommon resident and uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Location: Straits of Singapore.

Featured reports: May 2022, Jul 2022, Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Apr 2023, May 2023, Sep 2023, Oct 2023, May 2024, Jun 2024, Jul 2024, Aug 2024

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Sep 17-Sep 23
Early date 07 Jul 2024
Late date 28 Jun 2014
Recorded both as a migrant and a resident; migrates through the Singapore Strait in fall and spring. Peaks on the bar chart may be affected by the frequency of pelagic trips at different times of the year.
Non-breeding Bridled Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Bridled Tern in breeding plumage at Singapore Strait. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Bridled Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Bridled Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Bridled Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Bridled Tern at Singapore Strait. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Bridled Tern 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 (Bridled Tern)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Onychoprion anaethetus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22694730A154676367.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.). Bridled Tern. Retrieved on May 17, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/bridled-tern.

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