Whiskered Tern

Chlidonias hybrida

Introduction

A small 'marsh' tern that superficially resembles Common Tern, but is stockier and with a less forked tail. Whiskered Tern is a scarce visitor from southern Europe, with most records coming from May and June.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

87g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.5k 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*

Dorset, 1836

* 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.

Breeding Distribution for Whiskered Tern

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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Whiskered Tern is a rare vagrant, usually recorded in spring and autumn.

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 Whiskered 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

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 Whiskered 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.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Whiskered Tern

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Scientific name: Chlidonias hybrida
Authority: Pallas, 1811

BTO 2-letter code: WD
BTO 5-letter code: WHKTE
Euring code number: 6260

Alternate species names

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Catalan: fumarell carablanc
Czech: rybák bahenní
Danish: Hvidskægget Terne
Dutch: Witwangstern
Estonian: habeviires
Finnish: valkoposkitiira
French: Guifette moustac

German: Weißbart-Seeschwalbe
Hungarian: fattyúszerko
Icelandic: Skeggþerna
Irish: Geabhróg Bhroinndubh
Italian: Mignattino piombato
Latvian: baltvaigu zirinš
Lithuanian: baltaskruoste žuvedra
Norwegian: Hvitkinnsvartterne

Polish: rybitwa bialowasa
Portuguese: gaivina-dos-pauis
Slovak: corík bahenný
Slovenian: belolicna cigra
Spanish: Fumarel cariblanco
Swedish: skäggtärna
Welsh: Corswennol Farfog

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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