Photo: peterichman / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bridled Tern
Onychoprion anaethetus
Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 119 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 Onychoprion
- Species anaethetus
Where it lives
TrO widespread tropical and subtropical is., mostly near continents (except eastern Polynesia and Hawaiian Is. and other remote is.)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 119 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bridled Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Bridled Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) is a member of the Laridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers TrO widespread tropical and subtropical is., mostly near continents (except e Polynesia and Hawaiian Is. and other remote is.).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 119 g, with a wing length of about 27.4 cm and a tail of around 18.3 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 5.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bridled Tern?
The Bridled Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 119 g.
Where does the Bridled Tern live?
The Bridled Tern is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering TrO widespread tropical and subtropical is., mostly near continents (except e Polynesia and Hawaiian Is. and other remote is.), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Bridled Tern belong to?
The Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Bridled Tern eat?
The Bridled Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Bridled Tern migrate?
The Bridled Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Bridled 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 Bridled Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Bridled 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 Bridled Tern's range?
The Bridled Tern has a mapped global range of about 5.1 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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