White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
GenusChlidonias (Marsh Terns)
SpeciesChlidonias leucopterus (White-winged Tern)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Masai Mara National Reserve

1 Verified sightings at Masai Mara National Reserve From 2019 to 2026

2,482 Verified sightings across all 66 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the White-winged Tern

The white-winged tern or white-winged black tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) is a species of tern in the family Laridae. It is a small species generally found in or near bodies of fresh water across much of the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The genus name is from Ancient Greek khelidonios, "swallow-like", from khelidon, "swallow".

The name 'white-winged tern' is the standard in most English-speaking countries; in the United Kingdom, this name is also the one used by the formal ornithological recording authorities, but the older alternative 'white-winged black tern' is still frequent in popular use.

Adult birds in summer have short red legs and a short black bill (small and stubby, measuring 22–25 mm from the feathers, decidedly shorter than the head), a black neck (often with a pale gray back) and belly, very dark grey back, with a white rump and light grey (almost white) tail, which often looks 'square' in juveniles. The face is tinged yellowish. The wings, as the name implies, are mainly white. The inner wing is grayish with brown-tipped coverts. In non-breeding plumage, most of the black is replaced by white or pale grey, though a few blackish... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Gelochelidon nilotica

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Vanellus coronatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Vanellus senegallus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Vanellus spinosus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Vanellus melanopterus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Cursorius temminckii

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Actitis hypoleucos

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Actophilornis africanus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tringa glareola

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tringa ochropus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Burhinus vermiculatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vanellus lugubris

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
2	Biebrza National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~20%
3	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~20%
4	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
5	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~10%
6	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
7	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~10%
8	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
9	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
10	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
11	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~10%
12	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~10%
13	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
14	Ningaloo Marine Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
15	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
16	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
17	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
18	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
19	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
20	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	<5%
21	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
22	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	<5%
23	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	<5%
24	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	<5%
25	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
26	Raja Ampat	🇮🇩 Indonesia	<5%
27	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
28	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
29	Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park	🇲🇳 Mongolia	<5%
30	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	<5%
31	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
32	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
33	Kakadu National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
34	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
35	Daintree National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
36	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
37	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	<5%
38	Way Kambas National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
39	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
40	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
41	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	Insufficient data
42	Cape Range	🇦🇺 Australia	Insufficient data
43	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
44	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
45	Komodo National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
46	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
47	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
48	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
49	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
50	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	Insufficient data
51	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	Insufficient data
52	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
53	Litchfield National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	Insufficient data
54	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
55	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
56	Fiordland National Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	Insufficient data
57	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
58	Taroko National Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	Insufficient data
59	Aoraki Mount Cook National Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	Insufficient data
60	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
61	Vatnajokull National Park	🇮🇸 Iceland	Insufficient data
62	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
63	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	Insufficient data
64	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	Insufficient data
65	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
66	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data

← Back to Masai Mara National Reserve

White-winged Tern

About the White-winged Tern

Recent sightings of White-winged Tern in Masai Mara National Reserve

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Gull-billed Tern

Crowned Lapwing

African Wattled Lapwing

Spur-winged Lapwing

Black-winged Lapwing

Temminck's Courser

Common Sandpiper

African Jacana

Wood Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper

Water Thick-knee

Senegal Lapwing

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found