Photo: Godbolemandar / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-bellied Tern
Sterna acuticauda
Black-bellied Tern (Sterna acuticauda) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-bellied Tern (Sterna acuticauda) is a member of the Laridae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 153 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Sterna
- Species acuticauda
Where it lives
Inland Indus Valley (Pakistan), sub-Himalayan India and Irrawaddy (=Ayeyarwady) River, central Myanmar; formerly to southern China and Vietnam
Quick facts
- Weight
- 153 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Vulnerable
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-bellied Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black-bellied Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-bellied Tern (Sterna acuticauda) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR inland Indus Valley (Pakistan), sub-Himalayan India and Irrawaddy (=Ayeyarwady) River, c Myanmar; formerly to s China and Vietnam.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 153 g, with a wing length of about 22.4 cm and a tail of around 14.6 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-bellied Tern?
The Black-bellied Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 153 g.
Where does the Black-bellied Tern live?
The Black-bellied Tern is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR inland Indus Valley (Pakistan), sub-Himalayan India and Irrawaddy (=Ayeyarwady) River, c Myanmar; formerly to s China and Vietnam, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black-bellied Tern belong to?
The Black-bellied Tern (Sterna acuticauda) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Black-bellied Tern eat?
The Black-bellied Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Black-bellied Tern migrate?
The Black-bellied Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-bellied Tern endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Black-bellied Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Black-bellied Tern — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-bellied Tern's range?
The Black-bellied Tern has a mapped global range of about 2.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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