Photo: Cláudio Dias Timm from Rio Grande do Sul / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Snowy-crowned Tern
Sterna trudeaui
Snowy-crowned Tern (Sterna trudeaui) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Snowy-crowned Tern (Sterna trudeaui) is a member of the Laridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 153 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 Sterna
- Species trudeaui
Where it lives
Coastal southeastern Brazil and Uruguay to inland east-central Argentina; coastal Aconcagua to Llanquihue provinces (central, south-central Chile)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 153 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Snowy-crowned Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Snowy-crowned Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Snowy-crowned Tern (Sterna trudeaui) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA coastal se Brazil and Uruguay to inland ec Argentina; coastal Aconcagua to Llanquihue provinces (c, sc Chile).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 153 g, with a wing length of about 25.6 cm and a tail of around 13.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 540,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Snowy-crowned Tern?
The Snowy-crowned Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 153 g.
Where does the Snowy-crowned Tern live?
The Snowy-crowned Tern is found across South America with a range covering SA coastal se Brazil and Uruguay to inland ec Argentina; coastal Aconcagua to Llanquihue provinces (c, sc Chile), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Snowy-crowned Tern belong to?
The Snowy-crowned Tern (Sterna trudeaui) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Snowy-crowned Tern eat?
The Snowy-crowned Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Snowy-crowned Tern migrate?
The Snowy-crowned Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Snowy-crowned 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 Snowy-crowned Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Snowy-crowned 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 Snowy-crowned Tern's range?
The Snowy-crowned Tern has a mapped global range of about 540,000 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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