Photo: mattf1996 / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Greater Crested Tern
Thalasseus bergii
Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) is a member of the Laridae family found in Africa, Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 328 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 Thalasseus
- Species bergii
Where it lives
Coasts of southwestern Africa, North Indian Ocean and marginal seas, through Indonesian and Australian waters from far southern Japan to eastern Polynesia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 328 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Greater 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 Greater Crested Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) is a member of the Laridae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers AU, OR, AF coasts of sw Africa, North Indian Ocean and marginal seas, through Indonesian and Australian waters from far s Japan to e Polynesia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 328 g, with a wing length of about 35.8 cm and a tail of around 17.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 47.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greater Crested Tern?
The Greater Crested Tern is a large bird that weighs around 328 g.
Where does the Greater Crested Tern live?
The Greater Crested Tern is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering AU, OR, AF coasts of sw Africa, North Indian Ocean and marginal seas, through Indonesian and Australian waters from far s Japan to e Polynesia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Greater Crested Tern belong to?
The Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Greater Crested Tern eat?
The Greater Crested Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Greater Crested Tern migrate?
The Greater Crested Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Greater Crested 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 Greater Crested Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Greater Crested 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 Greater Crested Tern's range?
The Greater Crested Tern has a mapped global range of about 47.8 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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