Kerguelen Tern
Sterna virgata
Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata) is a member of the Laridae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 126 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Sterna
- Species virgata
Where it lives
Subantarctic islands of western, central South Indian Ocean: Crozet, Prince Edward, and Kerguelen is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 126 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Kerguelen 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 Kerguelen Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO subantarctic islands of w, c South Indian Ocean: Crozet, Prince Edward, and Kerguelen is.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 126 g, with a wing length of about 25 cm and a tail of around 12.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 7,758 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Kerguelen Tern?
The Kerguelen Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 126 g.
Where does the Kerguelen Tern live?
The Kerguelen Tern is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO subantarctic islands of w, c South Indian Ocean: Crozet, Prince Edward, and Kerguelen is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Kerguelen Tern belong to?
The Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Kerguelen Tern eat?
The Kerguelen Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Kerguelen Tern migrate?
The Kerguelen Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Kerguelen Tern endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Kerguelen Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Kerguelen Tern — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Kerguelen Tern's range?
The Kerguelen Tern has a mapped global range of about 7,758 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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