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Sooty tern

Sooty tern

With their sooty black backs and white undersides, you might observe these birds in large, noisy flocks of thousands returning to Norfolk’s northern coast and offshore islands to breed.

The local name for these birds is the whalebird, as they coincide their arrival back on Phillip Island with the spring/summer whale migration, before commencing breeding through summer.

Scientific name

Onychoprion fuscatus

We say

Whalebird

Size

Length: 33-36 cm

Wingspan: 82-94 cm

Population

Common

Residency status

Migrant

Where to see

You can see (and hear) sooty terns during the breeding months offshore at Captain Cook monument.

A small pink flower amongst large green leaves.

Looking out over rolling green hills and rocky cliffs against the sea. A wooden fence is in the foreground.

A white circular sign fixed to a wooden guardrail in a lush forrest.

A white circular sign on a wooden post. Lush forest greenery is in the background.

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.