This species has been found very sparingly on its passage between Alaska and its wintering grounds in the south Pacific. The majority of records come from the springtime where they are spread over a large period of time though the second half of May, which is likely the most productive time to locate this species in the islands. Terns tend to be early migrants with the single early summer record an outlier to what is likely the best time period to see this species (outside of the spring) being mid-late August, when they head back south.
