From Opus

Black-fronted Tern in eclipse plumage
Photo by winmark
Hooker River, Canterbury, South Island of New Zealand

Chlidonias albostriatus

[edit] Identification

29cm. Blue grey body, white rump, short shallow–forked tail, black cap, bright orange bill and legs.

Juveniles are missing the black cap.

[edit] Distribution

New Zealand.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Breeds in small colonies on gravel riverbeds of South Island, disperses to coasts.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

They nest in small colonies of up to 50 pairs, some on riverbeds near the coast. The nest is a shallow scratching or even a natural depression among the stones, with a few short bits of twigs around it. 1-2 eggs are laid.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes nymphs, mayflies, stoneflies, fish, insects, worms and grass grub larvae.

[edit] Status

Classified as Endangered in the 2007 IUCN Red List (BirdLife International, 2009).

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Sterna albostriata. From http://www.birdlife.org on 6/9/2009.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID