Facts about New Zealand fairy tern/tara-iti
NZ fairy tern chick in nest
The New Zealand fairy tern/tara-iti is the smallest tern breeding in New Zealand, with adults measuring around 250 mm in length, and weighing a mere 70 grams.
During the breeding season NZ fairy terns are easily picked out by their black caps (coming around in front of the eye), soft grey feathers, white chest, yellow bill and orange legs. In non-breeding plumage the crown fades into a mottled black and white, the bill fades to a dull orange-brown and the legs fade to a dull orange colour.
Ecology and habitat
The NZ fairy tern is often confused with the Eastern little tern, a bird that visits New Zealand every summer, and looks very similar to the fairy tern in non-breeding plumage.
Lifespan
NZ fairy terns regularly live up to 10 years or more, however, several birds have been sighted 11 - 13 years after being banded. The oldest known fairy tern is 18 years old.
Diet
Their diets consist of mainly small fish. Although they have been observed feeding on gastropods, crustaceans and plant matter in Australia. This has not been seen in NZ.
Map showing the location of the four
Fairy tern breeding sites
(view larger, JPG, 63K)
Habitat
NZ fairy terns hunt over shallow estuaries, and just beyond the surf zone. They construct their nests on exposed, low-lying areas of shell-covered sand. The nest is a simple scrape in the sand, set amidst the shells. These shells camouflage eggs from predators.
Population and range
Records from the 19th century suggest that NZ fairy terns used to be widespread around the coast of the North Island and eastern South Island, but were not abundant in any one area.
NZ fairy terns are now confined to the lower half of the Northland Peninsula.
Breeding is limited to four regular sites: Waipu, Mangawhai, Pakiri and the South Kaipara Head.
The wintering range of the birds extends over the Kaipara Harbour. Outside of the breeding season fairy terns form flocks on the harbour, often around Tapora in the Kaipara Harbour.
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