Blue-billed White-Tern Identification

An all-white, medium-sized tern with a slightly forked tail. Wings and tail can appear translucent when bird is overhead.

Daggerlike bill is blue at the base and black at the tip. Black eyering creates the impression of a very large black eye.

A medium-sized, all-white tern of tropical and subtropical islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Black, chisel-like bill has blue base. Black eyering combines with black eye to give an especially large-eyed look.

Juvenile has brown-edged feathers and a black base to the bill.

Pairs are monogamous and usually remain together from one breeding season to the next.

Lays single egg directly on tree branch, cliff, or building surface, without constructing a nest

Pairs raise a single chick each breeding season.

Nests in downtown Honolulu and other highly developed areas in addition to remote oceanic islands.

Feeds mainly on small fish. Chick has large feet, toes, and claws to help it remain on the bare branch surface.