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10

Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) Alternate name(s): "Greater Crested Tern", "Swift Tern" Aboriginal name(s): Race "cristata": "kaldjikang" (WA) Size: 44-48 cm; wing span 0.95-1.05 m (race "cristatus") Weight: 275-370 g

Australia: Family Group 10 Family Group 10 Table Brown Skua South Polar Skua Arctic Jaeger Pomarine Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Pacific Gull Kelp Gull Silver Gull Crested Tern Lesser Crested Tern Caspian Tern Gull-billed Tern White-fronted Tern Black-naped Tern Roseate Tern Common Tern Little Tern Fairy Tern Whiskered Tern White-winged Black Tern Grey Ternlet White Tern Sooty Tern Bridled Tern Aleutian Tern Common Noddy Black Noddy Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Greater Crested Terns are relatively large terns. During the breeding season they have a black cap, white front (throat, neck, chest, belly and vent) and grey wings. The black eyes are surrounded by the black cap, while the frons (base of the bill) is white. The pointy, long bill is lemon-yellow; the short legs and feet are dark-grey. In eclipse the front of the cap becomes mottled black-and-white. Juvenile Greater Crested Terns have "checkered" upperparts, i.e. their back is mottled in various shades of grey. Twitcher's tip Compared to Lesser Crested Terns, the Greater Crested Tern is bigger and has a lemon-coloured bill (rather than orange). Caspian Terns, on the other hand, are much larger and have a red bill with a black tip.

Taxonomy, classification See Greater Crested Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Greater Crested Tern is available HERE . There are in total 5 races of Greater Crested Terns, which are a dispersive species. Nominate race "bergii" and race "enigma" breed along the southern African coastline, with race "bergii" found westward of Cape Hoorn (South Africa, Namibia), race "enigma" to the East, up to about the Zambesi delta. They disperse into the near-coastal southern Atlantic Ocean ("bergii") and southern Indian Ocean, respectively. Race "thalassinus" breeds along the eastern African coast and on the Seychelles group of islands. They disperse into the western Indian Ocean. Race "velox" breeds along the south-eastern (Indian Ocean) coastline of Arabia and along the south-western coastline of Asia, from southern Iran to Pakistan. Outside the breeding season they disperse into the northern Indian Ocean. Race "cristatus" has by far the widest-ranging distribution. Their breeding range stretches from Malaysia, via the coastal fringes of Borneo and Sumatra, south-eastwards around the coastal fringe of New Guinea and all of Australia, including Tasmania. They disperse into the north-eastern and eastern Indian Ocean, the South China Sea, far into the western Pacific Ocean and everywhere in between in South-east Asia and all around the Australian continent. In Australia only race "cristatus" is found. They live all around the coastline of Australia, including Bass Strait and Tasmania, plus all offshore islands, the continental shelf and the sea to the North of Australia. They are not found anywhere inland. Greater Crested Terns can be found along the coastline, e.g. on beaches. They also venture out to sea, into coastal waters above the continental shelf and are found on many offshore islands.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "cristatus" M. Mearns reports finding Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", nesting on Lady Elliot Island, off the QLD coast near Agnes Water, in January 2006 and again in January 2016. Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", were first sighted by us in Australia at Myall Lakes NP, 50 km North of Newcastle, NSW, in June 2009. Since then we, and various contributors to this website, have spotted Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", in various locations all along the NSW and QLD coastline. Various contributors report finding Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", regularly along the coastline of south-western WA. J. Greaves reports spotting Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", on Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016. V. Collins report finding Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", on Penguin Island, Rockingham, WA, in January 2017. P. Brown found Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", in Darwin, NT, in January 2019. M. Eaton reports finding Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", at Bagama, QLD, near the tip of Cape York peninsula, in August 2019. At the other end of the continnent, M. Eaton spotted Greater Crested Terns, race "cristatus", at St. Helens, TAS, in September 2021. Race "velox" Greater Greater Crested Terns, race "velox", were spotted by us in Oman.

Photos

Race "cristatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

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

Lateral view of a Greater Crested Tern in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, February 2009]

Lateral view of a Greater Crested Tern in breeding plumage
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a Greater Crested Tern in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Margaret River, WA, March 2015]

Dorsal view of a Greater Crested Tern still in breeding plumage (the bird behind is moulting into non-breeding plumage)
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Colony of Greater Crested Terns on the shoreline of a coral atoll (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Direct comparison between Greaster Crested Terns, back, and Fairy Terns, both in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Penguin Island, near Rockingham, WA, October 2022]

Frontal view of a Greater Crested Tern in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Lateral/ventral view of a Greater Crested Tern in near-breeding plumage banking in flight
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, May 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a Greater Crested Tern in breeding plumage in flight
[Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]

NON-BREEDING

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

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

Near-frontal view of 3 Greater Crested Terns in non-breeding/transitional plumage, with Caspian Terns for comparison
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Near-frontal view of Greater Crested Terns in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, February 2009]

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

Near-lateral view of a Greater Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage taking a bath
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Close-up lateral portrait of a Greater Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Penguin Island, near Rockingham, WA, March 2016]

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

Lateral view of a Greater Crested Tern moulting into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, February 2009]

These two Greater Crested Terns in non-breeding plumage are also showing off their catch
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Greater Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, February 2009]

Lateral view of a snoozing Greater Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Greater Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, February 2021]

Lateral view of a Greater Crested Tern, right, with a Lesser Crested Tern, all in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Airlie Beach, QLD, July 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Greater Crested Tern in transitional plumage
[Iluka Bluff, Bundjalung NP, NSW, May 2014]

Greater Crested Terns and Silver Gulls are often seen to stay close to each other resting on beaches
[Hat Head NP, NSW, January 2011]

Greater Crested Terns and Silver Gulls are often seen to stay close to each other resting on beaches
[Hat Head NP, NSW, January 2011]

Greater Crested Terns in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2019]

Greater Crested Terns in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Greater Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, July 2012]

Greater Crested Tern with its prey in flight
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, January 2011]

Here a closer look at a Greater Crested Tern with its prey in flight
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

This lateral view of a bird in flight, deliberately left dark, shows the "pointy" jizz of a Greater Crested Tern
[Iluka Bluff, Bundjalung NP, NSW, May 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

This photo shows several different stages of the plumages of Greater Crested Terns: juvenile (left), transitional (centre), non-breeding (right centre) and breeding (right; slightly out of focus)
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a first-year Greater Crested Tern (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bribie Island, QLD, August 2021]

Lateral view of a first-year Greater Crested Tern (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hamelin Bay, Augusta, Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Lateral view of a first-year Greater Crested Tern (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Lateral view of a first-year Greater Crested Tern in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Lateral/ventral view of a first-year Greater Crested Tern in flight, wings flat (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Port Douglas, QLD, May 2022]

Frontal view of a juvenile Greater Crested Tern
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a juvenile Greater Crested Tern
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

The same juvenile Greater Crested Tern as shown above, now begging for food
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Juvenile Greater Crested Tern stretching a wing
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Greater Crested Tern
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Adult Greater Crested Tern with a young precocial chick (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2006]

Race "velox"

Greater Crested Terns, race "velox", were photographed by us in Oman.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Dec

Eggs: 1

Incubation period: 14 days

Fledging age: ca. 15 days

The breeding season listed above applied to the southern breeding regions of Greater Crested Terns. In the tropical North they breed mostly from about January to June. In principle, Greater Crested Terns can breed any time of the year. Sometimes they have a clutch of 2. Nests are usually on sand amongst some kind of low vegetation. Greater Crested Terns are colonial nesters, with up to thousands of nests densely packed on small islands.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Scrape

Material: Sand

Height above ground: N/A

View of a Greater Crested Tern nesting colony; note how the nests are located amongst low vegetation (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2006]

Nesting colony of Greater Crested Terns (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Three Greater Crested Tern nests, each with a single egg in it, all close to plants (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2006]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 61 x 42 mm

Colour: White, with dark-brown streaks/speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Close-up view of a Greater Crested Tern nest with a single egg in it (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2006]

Food, Diet

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

Near-frontal view of a Greater Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage with its catch, a substantial fish
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]

Here's a fish that didn't get away - envious onlookers are moving in (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, February 2009]

Greater Crested Tern that has caught a prawn (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[South West Rocks, NSW, September 2011]

Adult Greater Crested Tern bringing a fish for a juvenile (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

We will try to replace these noisy recordings with better ones as soon as possible.

crstern_20160921_2.m4a	cristatus (NE NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
crstern_20160921.m4a	cristatus (NE NSW)	Contact calls	© MD

More Greater Crested Tern sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Fri, 20 January 2023, 3:25 +00:00