Photo: william_stephens / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-cheeked Tern
Sterna repressa
White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa) is a member of the Laridae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 90 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 repressa
Where it lives
Coastal Kenya to Persian Gulf, Red Sea and coastal Pakistan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 90 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-cheeked Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The White-cheeked Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL coastal Kenya to Persian Gulf, Red Sea and coastal Pakistan.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 90 g, with a wing length of about 24.1 cm and a tail of around 13.6 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 797,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-cheeked Tern?
The White-cheeked Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 90 g.
Where does the White-cheeked Tern live?
The White-cheeked Tern is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering AF, PAL coastal Kenya to Persian Gulf, Red Sea and coastal Pakistan, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-cheeked Tern belong to?
The White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the White-cheeked Tern eat?
The White-cheeked Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-cheeked Tern migrate?
The White-cheeked Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the White-cheeked 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 White-cheeked Tern make?
1 real field recording of the White-cheeked 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 White-cheeked Tern's range?
The White-cheeked Tern has a mapped global range of about 797,000 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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