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Black fronted tern

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Kingdom
  
Genus
  
Chlidonias

Higher classification
  
Marsh tern

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Sternidae

Scientific name
  
Chlidonias albostriatus

Rank
  
Species

Black-fronted tern nzbirdsonlineorgnzsitesallfiles1200452Black

Similar
  
Bird, Tern, White‑fronted tern, Black‑billed Gull, Grey noddy

The black-fronted tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) also known as sea martin, ploughboy, inland tern, riverbed tern or tarapiroe, is a small tern generally found in or near bodies of fresh water in New Zealand and forages for freshwater fish, arthropods and worms. It has a predominantly grey plumage. Restricted to breeding in the eastern regions of South Island, it is declining and threatened by introduced mammals and birds.

Contents

Black-fronted tern Blackfronted tern New Zealand Birds Online

Taxonomy

Black-fronted tern Blackfronted tern New Zealand Birds Online

The black-fronted tern was first described by George Robert Gray in 1845. Its specific name is derived from the Latin albus "white", and striatus "striped". It is one of four species of marsh tern in the genus Chlidonias, which often live on or near bodies of water inland rather than coastal or at sea. The genus is sometimes sunk into the larger tern genus Sterna, so Sterna albostriata is an alternate scientific name.

Black-fronted tern Blackfronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus videos photos and

The species has several vernacular names; it is called ploughboy or ploughman's friend for its habit of foraging for earthworms and grubs in newly ploughed soil.

Description

Black-fronted tern Blackfronted tern with a skink Gulls terns and skuas Te Ara

Measuring 29 cm (12 in) in length, the adult tern has predominantly grey plumage with a black cap typical of many terns. The underparts and rump are white, and there is a thin white streak running along the cheeks underneath the cap. The bill is red and legs orange. The black cap recedes from the bill in non-breeding plumage and becomes flecked with white.

Distribution and habitat

Black-fronted tern Blackfronted Tern Birding NZ

Within New Zealand, the black-fronted tern is found from the southern tip of the North Island, and along much of the eastern South Island from Marlborough to Southland, and to Stewart Island. There is an outlying population along the Buller and upper Motueka Rivers in southern Nelson. The breeding range is restricted to South Island only. It lives along riverbanks and can forage out to 10 km (6 mi) at sea in the nonbreeding season.

Black-fronted tern Tarapiroe Blackfronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus Flickr

Numbers of black-fronted terns are decreasing across its range, and the species is classified as endangered. Threats include several species introduced to New Zealand - stoats (Mustela spp.), feral cats, the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), hedgehog, dog, and from Australia, the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), and Australian magpie (Cracticus tibicen).

References

Black-fronted tern Wikipedia


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