Fairy tern  (Sterna nereis)

Description

Weighing just 70 grams at maturity, the fairy tern is one of the smallest terns breeding in Australasia (3) (4). During the breeding season, this diminutive seabird has a black crown, pale grey upperparts, a white forehead, throat, chest and belly, an orange/yellow bill and orange legs (2) (3) (4). With the onset of the non-breeding season, the crown fades into a mottled black and white, while the bill and legs become duller in colour (3) (4). The sexes are alike in appearance, and juvenile fairy terns have a similar plumage to the non-breeding adults (3). Three subspecies, which occupy different parts of the fairy tern’s overall range, are recognised: Sterna nereis nereis, S. n. exsul and S. n. davisae (2) (5).

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