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Species › Birds

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Laridae
Presence in the Strait
Vagrant
Protection in Spain
Special protection (List)
In Spanish
Fumarel aliblanco

Photograph: Kim, CC BY, vía iNaturalist

Length
22 cm
Wingspan
50–56 cm
Weight
60–70 g
0204060LENGTH22 cmWINGSPAN50–56 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Accidental. Two birds at the River Guadiaro estuary on 20.08.85.

Identification

In summer plumage, like a Black Tern but with blacker upperparts and white forewings. In winter plumage, similar to a Whiskered Tern but with dark underwing-coverts, square tail, faint streaks on crown and black ear spot. Juveniles are similar to those of a Black Tern but with a very dark mantle and back lacking a dark breast-side patch. They originate from Eastern Europe. Sternidae ad.W juv. Fumarel Cariblanco ad.E Fumarel Común ad. mudando ad. moulting ad.W juv. juv. ad.E

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

  • Kim, CC BY · 2003

  • Kim, CC BY · 2003

  • Kim, CC BY · 2003

  • Kim, CC BY · 2003

  • Kim, CC BY · 2003

  • Kim, CC BY · 2003

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.