Terns are seabirds in the family Laridae that have a worldwide distribution and are normally found near the sea, rivers, or wetlands. Terns are treated as a subgroup of the family Laridae which includes gulls and skimmers and consists of eleven genera. They are slender, lightly built birds with long, forked tails, narrow wings, long bills, and relatively short legs. Most species are pale grey above and white below, with a contrasting black cap to the head, but the marsh terns, the Inca tern, and some noddies have dark plumage for at least part of the year. The sexes are identical in appearance, but young birds are readily distinguishable from adults. Terns have a non-breeding plumage, which usually involves a white forehead and much-reduced black cap. Learn more about Tern
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Tern Species Videos
View All Tern Videos
Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Antarctic Tern (2 videos) | Sterna vittata | Least concern |
Arctic Tern (138 videos) | Sterna paradisaea | Least concern |
Black Tern (12 videos) | Chlidonias niger | Least concern |
Black-naped Tern (7 videos) | Sterna sumatrana | Least concern |
Caspian Tern (26 videos) | Hydroprogne caspia | Least concern |
Common Tern (60 videos) | Sterna hirundo | Least concern |
Elegant Tern (8 videos) | Sterna elegans | Not Available |
Fairy Tern (45 videos) | Sternula nereis | Vulnerable |
Greater Crested Tern (17 videos) | Sterna bergii | Not Available |
Inca Tern (48 videos) | Larosterna inca | Near threatened |
Least Tern (225 videos) | Sternula antillarum | Least concern |
Lesser Crested Tern (2 videos) | Sterna bengalensis | Not Available |
Little Tern (28 videos) | Sternula albifrons | Least concern |
Royal Tern (14 videos) | Sterna maxima | Not Available |
Sandwich Tern (12 videos) | Sterna sandvicensis | Not Available |
Sooty Tern (143 videos) | Onychoprion fuscatus | Least concern |
South American Tern (2 videos) | Sterna hirundinacea | Least concern |
Swift Tern (11 videos) | Thalasseus bergii | Least concern |
White Tern (51 videos) | Gygis alba | Least concern |
White-fronted Tern (4 videos) | Sterna striata | Near threatened |