White-fronted Tern
Sterna striata
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Caradriformes)
- FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- GenusSterna (Typical Terns)
- SpeciesSterna striata (White-fronted Tern)
The white-fronted tern (Sterna striata), also known as tara, sea swallow, black-billed tern, kahawai bird, southern tern, or swallow tail, was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789. A medium-sized tern with an all-white body including underwing and forked tail, with pale grey hues on the mantle and upper side of the wing. In breeding adults a striking black cap covers the head from forehead to nape, leaving a small white strip above the black bill. This is the most abundant tern in New Zealand. It can be observed feeding on shoaling fish along the entire coastline and many of the smaller outlying islands. Breeding occurs from October to January on rocky cliffs, offshore islands and along the coast where pairs will nest on shingle, sand, shell or rock. Wikipedia →
50–60% of wildlife watchers report a White-fronted Tern sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 822 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Rakiura National Park
Antarctic Tern
Sterna vittata
Silver Gull
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
Dominican Gull
Larus dominicanus
Black-fronted Tern
Chlidonias albostriatus
Black-billed Gull
Chroicocephalus bulleri
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
VOC
Haematopus unicolor
South Island Pied Oystercatcher
Haematopus finschi
Brown Skua
Stercorarius antarcticus
Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica
Snares Island Snipe
Coenocorypha huegeli
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a White-fronted Tern in Rakiura National Park?
About 58% of wildlife watchers report a White-fronted Tern sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 822 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White-fronted Tern in Rakiura National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for White-fronted Tern in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.