Roseate Tern
Sterna dougallii
Silhouette: Sharon Wegner-Larsen · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- GenusSterna (Typical Terns)
- SpeciesSterna dougallii (Roseate Tern)
About the Roseate Tern
The roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) is a species of tern in the family Laridae. The genus name Sterna is derived from Old English "stearn", "tern", and the specific dougallii refers to Scottish physician and collector Dr Peter McDougall (1777–1814). "Roseate" refers to the bird's pink breast in breeding plumage.
English naturalist George Montagu described the roseate tern in 1813. Genetically, it is most closely related to the white-fronted tern (S. striata), with their common ancestor a sister lineage to the black-naped tern (S. sumatrana).
This species has a number of geographical subspecies, differing mainly in bill colour and minor plumage details. S. d. dougallii breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America, and winters south to the Caribbean and west Africa. Both the European and North American populations have been in long-term decline, though active conservation measures have reversed the decline in the last few years at some colonies, most notably at Rockabill Island off the coast of Dublin, Ireland, which now holds most of the European population (about 1200 pairs).
The tropical forms S. d. korustes and S. d. bangsi are resident breeders from east... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Roseate Tern in Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
Least Tern
Sternula antillarum
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensis
Cabot's Tern
Thalasseus acuflavidus
Sooty Tern
Onychoprion fuscatus
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 3 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 4 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | Kaeng Krachan National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 6 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Komodo National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 8 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Jaragua National Park | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | |
| 10 | Main Ridge Forest Reserve | 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 11 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 12 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 14 | Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 15 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 16 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 17 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Roseate Tern in Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Roseate Tern sighting in Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Roseate Tern in Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Roseate Tern in Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park in our monthly data.