Photo: Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Shorebirds

Aleutian Tern

Onychoprion aleuticus

Aleutian Tern (Onychoprion aleuticus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Indonesia Birds of Japan Birds of Malaysia Birds of the Philippines Birds of Thailand Birds of the United States Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Indonesia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Japan Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Malaysia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of the Philippines Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Thailand Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of the United States Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New South Wales Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Northern Territory Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Queensland

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The Aleutian Tern (Onychoprion aleuticus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 120 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Onychoprion
Species aleuticus

Where it lives

North Pacific coasts from Sakhalin, Sea of Okhotsk and Kamchatka through Aleutian Is., and west to southwestern Alaska

Quick facts

Weight: 120 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Aleutian 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 Aleutian Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Aleutian Tern (Onychoprion aleuticus) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA North Pacific coasts from Sakhalin, Sea of Okhotsk and Kamchatka through Aleutian Is., and w to sw Alaska.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 120 g, with a wing length of about 26.2 cm and a tail of around 15.2 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².

Songs & calls

Aleutian Tern — Call, flight call

Recorded by AUDEVARD Aurélien Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Aleutian Tern?

The Aleutian Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 120 g.

Where does the Aleutian Tern live?

The Aleutian Tern is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA North Pacific coasts from Sakhalin, Sea of Okhotsk and Kamchatka through Aleutian Is., and w to sw Alaska, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Aleutian Tern belong to?

The Aleutian Tern (Onychoprion aleuticus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Aleutian Tern eat?

The Aleutian Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Aleutian Tern migrate?

The Aleutian Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Aleutian Tern endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Aleutian Tern make?

1 real field recording of the Aleutian 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 Aleutian Tern's range?

The Aleutian Tern has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².