North American field guide

Sooty Tern

Onychoprion fuscatus

Also known as:Sterna fuscata, Wideawake Tern, Wideawake

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

41 cm (16") Uncommon. Southern Florida; open oceans but may be blown inland after storms. Large breeding colony in southern Florida (Dry Tortugas). Pigeon-sized. Adult is jet black above; white forehead and edge of forked tail; black bill and feet.

Immature is blackish brown overall except for white lower belly and undertail coverts; whitish specks on back.

Does not dive, feeds by plucking fish from surface.

Song: noisy day-or-night; "wide-awake" or "wacky-wack".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Drew Avery

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

セグロアジサシ Sooty Tern.mp4

Credit: 南十字星

Sooty Terns of Culebra Island (English version)

Credit: Norman Hopgood

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Sooty Tern

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 2

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:562-sooty-tern:1:1 Source: 562 Sooty Tern, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States

result:562-sooty-tern:2:1 Source: 562 Sooty Tern, row 2