Photo: Oregon State University / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chinese Crested Tern
Thalasseus bernsteini
Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 284 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Thalasseus
- Species bernsteini
Quick facts
- Weight
- 284 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Crested Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL islands off Zhejiang and Fujian (e China coast).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 284 g, with a wing length of about 31.9 cm and a tail of around 16.1 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 58 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chinese Crested Tern?
The Chinese Crested Tern is a large bird that weighs around 284 g.
Where does the Chinese Crested Tern live?
The Chinese Crested Tern is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL islands off Zhejiang and Fujian (e China coast), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Chinese Crested Tern belong to?
The Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Chinese Crested Tern eat?
The Chinese Crested Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Chinese Crested Tern migrate?
The Chinese Crested Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Chinese Crested Tern endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Chinese Crested Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Chinese Crested Tern — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chinese Crested Tern's range?
The Chinese Crested Tern has a mapped global range of about 58 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
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
More in Shorebirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern