Description:

Very distinctive in breeding plumage, appearing markedly black and white. In breeding blackhead and body contrast with pale upperwing-coverts, and has black underwing-coverts. Black underwing-coverts are last part of plumage to be lost during moult into non-breeding plumage (always white in Whiskered).

Distribution:

Rare passage migrant in Gilgit-Baltistan, mainly through central waterways. Usually make short stops around lakes, marshes, streams and rivers with nearby vegetation and grasslands. During passage from lowlands up to 4200m high.

Behavior:

Species is accomplished aerial feeder; uses contact-dipping, also hover-dipping, and hawks flying insects; does not plunge-dive. Mainly feeds on aquatic insects, also terrestrial insects; occasionally small fish or tadpoles. Opportunistic; will congregate at outbreaks of caterpillars.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of White-winged Tern in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of White-winged Tern

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.