Photo: Imran Shah from Islamabad, Pakistan / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) is a member of the Laridae family found in Africa, Central America & Caribbean and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 218 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 Gelochelidon
- Species nilotica
Where it lives
Widespread inland, southwestern Europe to northeastern China; coastal China; coastal western North Atlantic and Caribbean; coastal southern California and Mexico; coastal South America and inland north-central Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 218 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gull-billed Tern is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Gull-billed Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) is a species of gulls, terns, skimmers in the family Laridae, order Charadriiformes. It is found in Europe & Northern Asia, Africa, South & Southeast Asia, North America, Central America & Caribbean, South America — widespread inland, sw Europe to ne China; coastal China; coastal w North Atlantic and Caribbean; coastal s California and Mexico; coastal South America and inland nc Argentina.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gull-billed Tern?
The Gull-billed Tern is a large bird that weighs around 218 g.
Where does the Gull-billed Tern live?
The Gull-billed Tern is found across Africa, Central America & Caribbean and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF, OR, NA, MA, SA widespread inland, sw Europe to ne China; coastal China; coastal w North Atlantic and Caribbean; coastal s California and Mexico; coastal South America and inland nc Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Gull-billed Tern belong to?
The Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Gull-billed Tern eat?
The Gull-billed Tern is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Gull-billed Tern migrate?
The Gull-billed Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Gull-billed 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 Gull-billed Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Gull-billed 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 Gull-billed Tern's range?
The Gull-billed Tern has a mapped global range of about 7.5 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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