Photo: Ziegentom (www.fotocommunity.de) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New South Wales Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Northern Territory Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Queensland Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Tasmania Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Victoria Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Western Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Manitoba Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New Brunswick

See what's near you right now

The White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 54.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Chlidonias
Species leucopterus

Where it lives

Inland south-central, eastern Europe and Iraq to southeastern Russia, northeastern China and north-central Siberia

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 54.2 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The White-winged 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 White-winged Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL inland sc, e Europe and Iraq to se Russia, ne China and nc Siberia.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 54.2 g, with a wing length of about 20.8 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 10.2 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

White-winged Tern — Call

Recorded by Agris Celmins Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the White-winged Tern?

The White-winged Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 54.2 g.

Where does the White-winged Tern live?

The White-winged Tern is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL inland sc, e Europe and Iraq to se Russia, ne China and nc Siberia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the White-winged Tern belong to?

The White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the White-winged Tern eat?

The White-winged Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the White-winged Tern migrate?

The White-winged Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the White-winged 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-winged Tern make?

1 real field recording of the White-winged 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-winged Tern's range?

The White-winged Tern has a mapped global range of about 10.2 million km².