Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

Introduction

Distinctive, with a huge red bill and shaggy black crest, this is the largest of the terns; it is a regular but scarce visitor, mostly occurring during the summer months.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

622.5g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.4k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Norfolk, 1825

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Caspian Terns are scarce migrants, with a handful of nomadic individuals recorded most summers.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Caspian Tern movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Caspian Tern, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Caspian Tern

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Scientific name: Hydroprogne caspia
Authority: Pallas, 1770

BTO 2-letter code: CJ
BTO 5-letter code: CASTE
Euring code number: 6060

Alternate species names

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Catalan: xatrac gros
Czech: rybák velkozobý
Danish: Rovterne
Dutch: Reuzenstern
Estonian: räusktiir e. räusk
Finnish: räyskä
French: Sterne caspienne

German: Raubseeschwalbe
Hungarian: lócsér
Icelandic: Ránþerna
Irish: Geabhróg Chaispeach
Italian: Sterna maggiore
Latvian: lielais zirinš
Lithuanian: plešrioji žuvedra
Norwegian: Rovterne

Polish: rybitwa wielkodzioba
Portuguese: garajau-grande
Slovak: cegrava velkozobá
Slovenian: kaspijska cigra
Spanish: Pagaza piquirroja
Swedish: skräntärna
Welsh: Môr-wennol Gawraidd

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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