Gray-backed Tern
NameGray-backed Tern
Common NameGray-backed Tern
Scientific NameOnychoprion anaethetus
FamilyLaridae
Wingspan (cm)79
Length (cm)31
Weight (g)125
Plumage DetailsAdults have a black cap extending to the nape, a broad white forehead band, and a white supercilium. The back and upperwings are dark gray, contrasting sharply with pure white underparts. The deeply forked tail is dark gray to blackish, and the bill and legs are black.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a harsh, grating 'karr-rak' or 'karr-r-r-r-r-r', and a softer 'wup-wup' often given in flight or at breeding colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, including the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, breeding on islands within these regions.
Identifying FeaturesDark gray back, Black cap with white forehead, Deeply forked dark tail, Slender black bill, White underparts
Description
A medium-sized pelagic tern, the Gray-backed Tern is characterized by its dark gray upperparts, black cap, and white underparts. It spends most of its life at sea, returning to islands to breed, often nesting in scrapes on the ground or among rocks.
