Alaska Seabird Information Series ALEUTIAN TERN Onychoprion aleutica Conservation Status ALASKA: Moderate N. AMERICAN: High Concern GLOBAL: Least Concern Breed Eggs Incubation Fledge Nest Feeding Behavior Diet

• Main Authors: U. S. Fish, Wildlife Service Alaska
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Black Cap; Arctic tern; Sterna paradisaea; Alaska; Siberia
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.691.8707; http://www.fws.gov/alaska/mbsp/mbm/seabirds/pdf/alte.pdf

The Aleutian Tern (Onychoprion) aleutica breeds only in Alaska and eastern Siberia. It nests in coastal colonies that are distributed over a wide range. In Alaska, it frequently associates with Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea) on the breeding grounds. The two species are very similar in appearance and may be difficult to differentiate. Both have a black cap, but the Aleutian has a white forehead. During the breeding season, the Arctic Tern has a bright red bill, feet and legs while the Aleutian's are black. Until recently, the Aleutian Tern was placed in the large genus Sterna which included most terns. In 2006, the American Ornithologists ’ Union reclassified this species based on genetic sequence comparisons. It is now in the genus Onychoprion which includes three other