Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
The Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world, with a wingspan nearly as large as a Herring Gull.
- Scientific name
- Hydroprogne caspia
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Charadriiformes › Laridae › Hydroprogne
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Large inland lakes, coastal beaches, estuaries, and salt marshes.
- Diet
- Primarily fish, occasionally large insects, crustaceans, or the eggs and chicks of other birds.
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
- Size
- Length 48-60 cm, Wingspan 127-145 cm
- Lifespan
- 12-30 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss, human disturbance during nesting, and accumulation of environmental toxins like mercury.
- Safe to approach?
- Generally harmless to humans but fiercely territorial near nests. If approached, they may dive-bomb to defend their young; maintain a 50-meter distance and leave the area if birds show distress.
The Caspian tern ( Hydroprogne caspia ) is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no accepted subspecies. The genus name is from Ancient Greek hudros , "water", and Latin progne , "swallow". The specific caspia is from Latin and, like the English name, refers to the Caspian Sea.
Photo: Daughter Dad, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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