An Australian Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon macrotarsa scavenging on discarded human food

Abstract

Scavenging human foods is known within the family Laridae, but this behaviour is more typically seen in gulls rather than terns. This note reports behaviour of an Australian Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon macrotarsa scavenging a discarded French fry. This species’ diet mainly comprises of invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans and worms, though a degree of opportunism has been demonstrated by published records of fishes, rodents and lizards also being taken. The observation here expands our knowledge of novel food items in the Australian Gull-billed Tern.