Medium large, deeply forked tail, black tipped yellow bill. Sexes alike.
Adults: Breeding: Top of head, nape, black. Crest, black. Rest of head, neck, underparts, white. Eye, dark brown. Mantle, most of wings, pale pearl grey with white outer primaries, becoming pregressively darker. Outer primaries have prominent white shaft bordered by dark grey. Leading edge of wing, white. Rump, tail, white and tinged pale grey. Bill, yellow with last half tipped black. Legs, black. Non-breeding: Like breeding plumage but forehead white. Crown, black but streaked with white. Bill, yellow with last half tipped black white then turns back to yellow. Legs, black.
China (mainland) (B), Indonesia (NB), Malaysia (NB), Philippines (NB), Taiwan (China) (B), Thailand (NB).
Population
Estimated population is <50 (2010) and decreasing.
Status CR
Destruction of coastal wetlands through development, egg collecting, pollution, and predation by rats are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet