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Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspiaOrder: CHARADRIIFORMESFamily: Skuas, Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Caspian Tern Breeding Adult Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Red-brown to dark brown.
  • Head Pattern: Capped, Plain
  • Crown Color: Black
  • Forehead Color: Black
  • Nape Color: White
  • Throat Color: White
  • Cere color: No Data
Caspian Tern Breeding Adult Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 48-58 cm (19-23 in)
  • Weight: 635 g (22.4 oz)
  • Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
  • Color: White, Black, Gray
  • Underparts: White
  • Upperparts: Pale Gray
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Caspian Tern Breeding Adult Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Strong flight., Swift graceful flight.
  • Wingspan Range: 127-140 cm (50-55 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Forked Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: White
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg Color: Black
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Family Tern (Laridae)_blue
Species Hydroprogne caspia
Length19 - 23 Inches
Wingspan52.5 Inches

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern: Large, stocky tern with pale gray upperparts, white underparts. Cap is black and may appear weakly crested; large bill is coral-red. Undersides of primaries are gray. Tail is white, relatively short, and slightly forked; legs are black. Hovers above water before diving.

● Song: "kaark" and "ka-arr"

● Foraging & Feeding: Caspian Tern: Eats mostly fish such as mullet and menhaden. Plunge dives or catches fish at surface while flying above; steals food from other birds.

● Breeding & nesting: Caspian Tern: One to five brown marked, pink buff eggs are laid in a shallow depression in sand, often lined with shell fragments and grass. Incubation ranges from 20 to 28 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Caspian Tern: Royal Tern has orange bill and deeply forked tail.

Flight Pattern

Strong flight., Swift graceful flight.
Caspian Tern Breeding Adult Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Caspian Tern: Breeds in scattered colonies from Mackenzie, Great Lakes, and Newfoundland south to the Gulf coast and Baja California. Spends winters north to California and North Carolina. Also breeds in Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. Preferred habitats include sandy or pebbly shores of lakes and large rivers and along coasts.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial, Rarely solitary
PopulationStable
MigrationMigratory
Weight22.4 Ounces