Photo: baldcoot / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Damara Tern
Sternula balaenarum
Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum) is a member of the Laridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 60 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Sternula
- Species balaenarum
Quick facts
- Weight
- 60 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Damara Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Damara Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF coastal s Angola, Namibia and South Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 60 g, with a wing length of about 16.9 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 405,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Damara Tern?
The Damara Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 60 g.
Where does the Damara Tern live?
The Damara Tern is found across Africa with a range covering AF coastal s Angola, Namibia and South Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Damara Tern belong to?
The Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Damara Tern eat?
The Damara Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Damara Tern migrate?
The Damara Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Damara Tern endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Damara Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Damara Tern — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Damara Tern's range?
The Damara Tern has a mapped global range of about 405,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Laridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Shorebirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated