Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
84 g
About This Species
A graceful marsh tern found over freshwater wetlands, flooded fields, and shallow lagoons across parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, feeding by dipping to the water surface for insects and small fish rather than plunge-diving. Breeding birds show a dark grey body and black cap, while non-breeding and juvenile birds are paler and can be confused with other marsh terns. Spring and summer at freshwater breeding wetlands offer the best views of adults in full plumage.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Marsh terns nest colonially on floating vegetation and are very sensitive to disturbance, with flushed adults leaving eggs or chicks exposed to sun, chilling, or predators within minutes, so viewing from a distance with binoculars from the shore is strongly preferred over approaching a colony by boat or on foot.
- Legal protection for breeding wetland birds varies considerably across its broad range spanning multiple continents, so local rules should be checked rather than assumed.
- Avoid boating or wading near visible nesting groups, particularly during incubation.
LCAvesCharadriiformesLaridae
Seasonal Activity
589,612 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 84 g
Photo
(c) Paul Cools, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Paul Cools
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.