Little tern - Sternula albifrons
Photographed at Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Although only about 100 of these birds visit New Zealand each year, the little tern is the commonest small tern in the country over the summer. Birds seen in New Zealand come from two different populations; most of them are northern hemisphere migrants that spend their non-breeding season in New Zealand but a few are from the population breeding in Australia and they can be recognised by having a moult cycle that is six months different.
Little tern - Sternula albifrons
Photographed at Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Although only about 100 of these birds visit New Zealand each year, the little tern is the commonest small tern in the country over the summer. Birds seen in New Zealand come from two different populations; most of them are northern hemisphere migrants that spend their non-breeding season in New Zealand but a few are from the population breeding in Australia and they can be recognised by having a moult cycle that is six months different.