Photo: Marek Szczepanek / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) is a member of the Laridae family found in Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 83.7 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 Chlidonias
- Species hybrida
Where it lives
Widespread inland southern, central Eurasia, eastern, southern Africa, and Australia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 83.7 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Whiskered 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 Whiskered Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL, OR, AU widespread inland s, c Eurasia, e, s Africa, and Australia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 83.7 g, with a wing length of about 23.2 cm and a tail of around 8.6 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 10.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Whiskered Tern?
The Whiskered Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 83.7 g.
Where does the Whiskered Tern live?
The Whiskered Tern is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering AF, PAL, OR, AU widespread inland s, c Eurasia, e, s Africa, and Australia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Whiskered Tern belong to?
The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Whiskered Tern eat?
The Whiskered Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Whiskered Tern migrate?
The Whiskered Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Whiskered 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 Whiskered Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Whiskered 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 Whiskered Tern's range?
The Whiskered Tern has a mapped global range of about 10.1 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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