ML408023261

Observation details

This bird was first photographed and reported via the NZ Bird Identification Facebook group. Upon seeing this we made a visit to Waikanae Estuary and scanned the flock of White-fronted Terns several times before the bird flew in and landed amongst them around 11:45am. It then roosted for 45 minutes before leaving to feed in the channel with the majority of the tern flock. Basic plumage marsh tern with extensive black headphone markings on head, darker grey upperparts than the similar White-winged black tern, along with a longer bill, darker legs, a grey rump, and grey shoulder tabs which are diagnostic for Black tern. This is likely the Eurasian subspecies Chlidonias niger niger owing to the pale underwings and relatively small shoulder tab markings. Would be the 1st record of this species for New Zealand if accepted.