Photo: Cláudio D. Timm / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Yellow-billed Tern
Sternula superciliaris
Yellow-billed Tern (Sternula superciliaris) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Yellow-billed Tern (Sternula superciliaris) is a member of the Laridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 46.4 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 Sternula
- Species superciliaris
Where it lives
Large rivers of northeastern Peru, northern, central Colombia, northern Venezuela and Guianas to east-central Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 46.4 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Yellow-billed Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Yellow-billed Tern is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Yellow-billed Tern (Sternula superciliaris) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA large rivers of ne Peru, n, c Colombia, n Venezuela and Guianas to ec Argentina.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 46.4 g, with a wing length of about 16.9 cm and a tail of around 6.2 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 11.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Yellow-billed Tern?
The Yellow-billed Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 46.4 g.
Where does the Yellow-billed Tern live?
The Yellow-billed Tern is found across South America with a range covering SA large rivers of ne Peru, n, c Colombia, n Venezuela and Guianas to ec Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Yellow-billed Tern belong to?
The Yellow-billed Tern (Sternula superciliaris) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Yellow-billed Tern eat?
The Yellow-billed Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Yellow-billed Tern migrate?
The Yellow-billed Tern is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Yellow-billed 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 Yellow-billed Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Yellow-billed 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 Yellow-billed Tern's range?
The Yellow-billed Tern has a mapped global range of about 11.4 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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