Photo: Chris Pearson from Leuchars, Scotland / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
South American Tern
Sterna hirundinacea
South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea) is a member of the Laridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 188 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 hirundinacea
Where it lives
Coastal southern Peru and Espiritu Santo (east-central Brazil) to Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn is. and Falkland Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 188 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The South American 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 South American Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA coastal s Peru and Espiritu Santo (ec Brazil) to Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn is. and Falkland Is.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 188 g, with a wing length of about 29.7 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 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the South American Tern?
The South American Tern is a large bird that weighs around 188 g.
Where does the South American Tern live?
The South American Tern is found across South America with a range covering SA coastal s Peru and Espiritu Santo (ec Brazil) to Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn is. and Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the South American Tern belong to?
The South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the South American Tern eat?
The South American Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the South American Tern migrate?
The South American Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the South American 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 South American Tern make?
1 real field recording of the South American 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 South American Tern's range?
The South American Tern has a mapped global range of about 1.4 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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