Blue-billed White-Tern Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesBlue-billed White-Tern

Adult

An all-white, medium-sized tern with a slightly forked tail. Wings and tail can appear translucent when bird is overhead.

Adult

Daggerlike bill is blue at the base and black at the tip. Black eyering creates the impression of a very large black eye.

Adult

A medium-sized, all-white tern of tropical and subtropical islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Black, chisel-like bill has blue base. Black eyering combines with black eye to give an especially large-eyed look.

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Juvenile

Juvenile has brown-edged feathers and a black base to the bill.

Adult

Pairs are monogamous and usually remain together from one breeding season to the next.

Adult

Lays single egg directly on tree branch, cliff, or building surface, without constructing a nest

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Juvenile

Pairs raise a single chick each breeding season.

Adult

Nests in downtown Honolulu and other highly developed areas in addition to remote oceanic islands.

Adult and chick

Feeds mainly on small fish. Chick has large feet, toes, and claws to help it remain on the bare branch surface.

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