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Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Caspian Tern, photographed by Jef-B

Photo: Jef-B · iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC 4.0 (licence)

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Call and song

About the Caspian Tern

Largest tern in the world; widespread but typically uncommon. Thick, bright-red bill is distinctive; most have small dark marking near the tip. Note solid black cap in summer which turns to black streaks in winter. Juveniles have V-shaped markings on the upperparts. Feeds by cruising over lakes, rivers, estuaries, and reservoirs looking for fish, then plunging to catch them. Smooth wingbeats, more gull-like than choppy flight of small-bodied terns. Very vocal, giving loud raucous screams. Compare especially with Royal Tern, which is slightly smaller and more slender, and has a thinner, more orangey bill.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 171 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

More gulls, terns, and skimmers