Caspian Tern

This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Hydroprogne caspia

Malay Name: Camar Raya

Chinese Name: 红嘴巨燕鸥

Range: Found from northern Africa to Europe, temperate Asia, Australasia and North America with northern populations wintering along the coasts of Africa, southern Europe, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Southeast Asia, West Indies and northern South America.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 48-55 cm

Identification: The largest of the tern species. Non-breeding adult has diagnostic thick red bill, mostly black crown, nape and mask with whiter, dark-mottled forecrown and black subterminal marking on bill-tip. Breeding adult has all black forehead to nape and mask. First winter bird resembles non-breeding adult but has darker secondaries, primary upperwing-coverts and tail.

Habitat: Coastal pools, mudflats and sandflats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Forages by hovering over shallow waters and plunge-dives when a fish is spotted.

Local Status: Vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2013 to Jun 2023 (all records)
Peak week Nov 12-Nov 18
Early date 19 Jul 1981
Late date 25 Jan 2011
Another very rare migrant with only one confirmed record since 2012; all three sightings since 2006 have been from the Mandai Mudflat area.
Caspian Tern at Mandai Mudflats. Photo Credit: Chong Boon Leong aka Wokoti
Caspian Tern at Mandai Mudflats. Photo Credit: Frankie Cheong
Caspian Tern, non-breeding in Queensland, Australia. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Caspian Tern at Mandai Mudflats. Photo Credit: Frankie Cheong
Caspian Tern, breeding plumage in Queensland, Australia. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Caspian Tern)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Hydroprogne caspia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22694524A155509311.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Caspian Tern. Retrieved on November 27, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/caspian-tern.

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