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10

Caspian Tern

(Hydroprogne caspia)
Aboriginal name(s): "karrynekarryne" (WA)
Size: 48-60 cm; wing span: 1.25-1.45 m
Weight: 530-780 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Caspian Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Frontal view of a Caspian Tern in breeding plumage (3rd from right), two more Caspian Terns in non-breeding plumage on the left and three non-breeding/transitional Greater Crested Terns for comparison (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Caspian Tern in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooroy, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral view of a Caspian Tern in breeding plumage, centre, with another starting to moult into eclipse plumage behind and a Gull-billed Tern in non-breeding plumage in front (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Toorbul Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Caspian Tern in near-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Toorbul Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Caspian Terns resting together with a flock of Silver Gulls; the bird at the centre back is in breeding plumage, the three on the right in non-breeding plumage; note that Caspian Terns are taller than Silver Gulls
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Two Caspian Terns in breeding plumage resting in shallow water
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2017]

Lateral view of Caspian Terns; one in breeding plumage, back, one in eclipse plumage, centre, and another in transitional plumage in front (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Toorbul Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Frontal view of a Caspian Tern in breeding plumage in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2015]

Close-up view from underneath of a Caspian Tern in breeding plumage in flight; the bird has just flown a tight bend, using its fanned tail for extra lift
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Lateral view of a Caspian Tern in breeding plumage in flight displaying its upperwing pattern
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

Lateral view of a Caspian Tern in breeding plumage in flight displaying its underwing pattern
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

Close-up dorsal view of a Caspian Tern in breeding plumage in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, January 2022]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Caspian Tern in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Caspian Tern in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Caspian Tern in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-frontal and lateral view of Caspian Terns in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Caspian Tern in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Lateral view of a Caspian Tern in transitional plumage in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a Caspian Tern in transitional plumage in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

Frontal view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage; Greater Crested Tern on the left for comparison (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Frontal view of two Caspian Terns in non-breeding plumage; Greater Crested Tern on the right for comparison (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-frontal view of Caspian Terns in different plumages: breeding (far right), non-breeding (centre) and transitional at front left (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Caspian Terns in different plumages: non-breeding (second from right) and transitional (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-lateral view of two Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage, with a Silver Gull and many young Whiskered Terns
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, February 2022]

Lateral view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Caloundra Headland, QLD, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, August 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port of Brisbane Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, March 2019]

Frontal view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Near-frontal view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2022]

Near-lateral view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

This near-dorsal view of a Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight shows clearly both the upperwing pattern (near-side wing) and underwing pattern (far-side wing)
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage taking off again after an unsuccessful dive
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Caspian Tern in non-breeding plumage in comparison with a Red-necked Avocet (bottom left)
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, February 2012]

Here a Caspian Tern's way of waste management... (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

(Possibly immature) Caspian Tern in flight
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

(Possibly immature) Caspian Tern in flight; note the short primary flight feathers
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2012]

Photos of Caspian Terns were also taken by us in Europe.

Behaviour

Social behaviour: ? Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Solitary

Food, Diet

Like all terns, Caspian Terns feed on fish, which they catch with their bills just under the water surface in a steep high-speed dive from considerable height.

Caspian Tern trying to swallow a big fish; its is almost in, but not quite yet... (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port of Brisbane Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, March 2019]

Caspian Tern now turning the fish (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port of Brisbane Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, March 2019]

Caspian Tern uith a thish thtill thtuck in itth will... (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port of Brisbane Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Caspian Tern taking off with its catch; see the page on White-necked Herons for an example of how they are hustled by Caspain Terns - an indication that the two species compete for food (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Caspian Tern attempting to grab something in shallow water
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Caspian Tern taking off after an unsuccessful attempt
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

Dorsal view of a Caspian Tern taking off with its catch

This Caspian Tern was observed by us cleaning its bill (it had nothing in its bill that it might otherwise have been rinsing)
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, May 2012]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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