Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Chlidonias leucopterus
Family: Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls · Status: Uncommon migrant · Size: 20–24 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds throughout Europe to temperate Asia, wintering to Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. Central and eastern Asian populations migrate through Southeast Asia, and wintering birds are numerous in the Greater Sundas and the Philippines.
Breeding adult is unmistakable with an all-black head, body and underwing-coverts contrast with white wing-coverts, rump and tail. Non-breeding adult is white overall, has a black cap and black patch behind the ear coverts giving the impression of 'headphones', white collar, white rump, grey upperwing with dark marginal coverts. Immature resembles non-breeding adult but relatively uniformly brown scapulars. Non-breeding adult/immature separated from immature Whiskered Tern by greater extension of the white patch behind the ear coverts, white collar (black cap touches the mantle in Whiskered), white rump (pale grey in Whiskered), slimmer bill and dark marginal coverts (paler and not so prominent in Whiskered). Immature separated from immature Whiskered Tern by more uniformly brown scapulars (dark crescents on scapulars in Whiskered).
Open seas, coastal waters, mudflats, freshwater marshes and reservoirs.
Gathers in small loose flocks, feeding by aerial contact-dipping and skimming low over water; does not plunge-dive.