Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Shorebirds

Fairy Tern

Sternula nereis

Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of New Zealand Birds of New South Wales Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New Zealand Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New South Wales Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Queensland Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Tasmania Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Victoria Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Western Australia

See what's near you right now

The Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis) is a member of the Laridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 72.3 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 Sternula
Species nereis

Where it lives

West to southeastern Australia, northern North I. (New Zealand) and New Caledonia

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 72.3 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Fairy 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 Fairy Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU w to se Australia, n North I. (New Zealand) and New Caledonia.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 72.3 g, with a wing length of about 17.8 cm and a tail of around 8.1 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 250,000 km².

Songs & calls

Fairy Tern — Song / call

Recorded by Drew Davison Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Fairy Tern?

The Fairy Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 72.3 g.

Where does the Fairy Tern live?

The Fairy Tern is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU w to se Australia, n North I. (New Zealand) and New Caledonia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Fairy Tern belong to?

The Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Fairy Tern eat?

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

Does the Fairy Tern migrate?

The Fairy Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Fairy 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 Fairy Tern make?

1 real field recording of the Fairy Tern can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Fairy Tern's range?

The Fairy Tern has a mapped global range of about 250,000 km².