Sooty Tern
NameSooty Tern
Common NameSooty Tern
Scientific NameOnychoprion fuscatus
FamilyLaridae
Wingspan (cm)84
Length (cm)34.5
Weight (g)170
Plumage DetailsAdults have a black cap, back, wings, and deeply forked tail. A prominent white forehead patch extends above the eye, contrasting with the black cap. The underparts are entirely white, and the bill and legs are black.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its distinctive, high-pitched, nasal 'ker-wack-wack' or 'wide-awake' call, often given repeatedly, especially in breeding colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread throughout tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, nesting on remote oceanic islands in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Identifying FeaturesBlack upperparts and white underparts, White forehead patch extending above the eye, Deeply forked tail, Pelagic lifestyle
Description
The Sooty Tern is a medium-sized seabird characterized by its dark upperparts and contrasting white underparts. It is highly pelagic, spending most of its life at sea and only coming to land to breed in large colonies on tropical and subtropical islands.
