Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
LARIDAE Members: White-winged Tern 309
General Comments
This European species has been quite regular in late summer and early fall at refuges to our North, especially in Delaware; however, the White-winged Tern seems not to stray much farther south. The only NC records are of one adult in basic plumage seen by several observers at Bodie Island lighthouse pond on 13 Aug 1994* (Chat 61:276-277); and one in full alternate plumage seen and photographed by numerous birders at Cape Point (Dare) from 26 May - 2 Jun 2020* (Chat 84:96). The last record has been reviewed and accepted by the NC BRC; photos are on the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
SA
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Two records (see above).
Piedmont
No records.
Mountain
No records.
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