Nov., 1920 203 
FROM FIELD AND STUDY 
The Probable Breeding of the Aleutian Tern in Southeastern Alaska—a Query.— 
A record in the May, 1920, number of Tur Connor (page 111) of the probable breeding 
of the Aleutian Tern near Yakutat appears to rest on “sight” identification only, and 
the actions of Mr. Walker’s birds were so different from the usual habits of this species 
that I am forced to doubt if the birds seen really were Aleutian Terns. 
Sterna aleutica has always been a decidedly rare bird, aud authentic eggs have 
been taken in North America at three places only. A single egg was taken by Bischoff 
on Kadiak Island in 1868 together with the parent which is the type of the species; but 
since that date it has not been found breeding in southeastern Alaska, and the suppo- 
sition that it bred in the Aleutian Islands (which was responsible for the bird’s name) 
has not been substantiated by any of the ornithologists who have visited the chain. Mr. 
H. W. Nelson was the next ornithologist to take eggs. During his stay at St. Michael 
from 1877 to 1881 he found two breeding colonies. One was on an island in St. Michael 
Bay and the other on asmall island near the village of Kegikhtowik about eighteen miles 
away. Nearly all the islands in this region are rocky and rise abruptly from the sea or 
else are low and marshy. The two islands where these terns hreed are of a different 
character, rising from the sea in a sharp incline for some 25 or 30 feet and being level 
on top, or fairly so, with a covering of dry matted grass and moss. Apparently these 
birds require this type of nesting ground. 
No one seems to have found the Aleutian Tern breeding in North America since 
Mr. Nelson’s records were published until 1915 when the present writer visited St. 
Michael and collected eggs on the island in St. Michael Bay. 
There are a number of supposed eggs of this species in American collections taken 
by a whaling captain on Stuart Island. These eggs I believe are eggs of the Arctic 
Tern; at least all that I have seen show none of the characteristics that render the eggs 
of the Aleutian Tern distinguishable at a glance from those of Sterna paradisaea. 
There are certain ways in which the Aleutian Tern can be identified in life with 
certainty. The best field mark I consider to be its voice. The usual note is a three syl- 
labled whistle suggesting one of the small sandpipers (Hreunetes) and not in the least 
tern-like. I heard the harsh grating note that other terns use, but once, and that was 
from a wounded bird. The second distinguishing characteristic is its habitual shyness. 
Even when a person is walking over its nesting ground the birds usually keep out of gun 
range and it is rare for them to dart down at one’s head. I never had an Aleutian Tern 
strike my head although this is a common habit with the Arctic Tern. Even a wounded 
bird on the ground, which will usually attract other species of terns, only serves to draw 
this shy bird a little nearer. It took me a number of visits of several hours each to 
collect a small series of these birds, while the same number of Arctic or Common Terns 
could be taken in any colony in a few minutes. Aleutica can be distinguished from 
paradisaea by its flight, but this distinction is less noticeable except upon direct com- 
parison between the two species. Aleutica has slower wing beats and there is a certain 
lack of directness about its flight that once learned is diagnostic. In general appearance 
the Aleutian Tern seems larger and darker colored than the Arctic, but these impres- 
sions are often lost in poor light. The white forehead and black feet and Dill, so no- 
a in the bird in the hand, can be seen in life under exceptional light conditions 
only. 
There is one way in which the Arctic Tern might be confused with the Aleutian 
Tern by a person who was not familiar with the latter species. In a certain stage of 
plumage, summer specimens of paradisaea show considerable white on the forehead. 
This plumage was described many years ago under the name Sterna portlandica and 
probably represents birds one year old that, because of deficient vitality, or from some 
other cause, have failed to acquire the full nuptial plumage at the spring molt. This 
plumage is somewhat rare and many colonies show no birds in this stage, but I have 
seen others which contained a considerable number of these, so-called Portland Terns. I 
believe it is not definitely known if birds in this plumage breed; but such birds in a 
colony might act as described by Mr. Walker and their markings lead to the impression 
