Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyLaridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- GenusChlidonias (Marsh Terns)
- SpeciesChlidonias hybrida (Whiskered Tern)
About the Whiskered Tern
The whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybrida) is a tern in the family Laridae. The genus name is from Ancient Greek khelidonios, "swallow-like", from khelidon, "swallow". The specific hybridus is Latin for hybrid; Peter Simon Pallas thought it might be a hybrid of white-winged black tern and common tern, writing "Sterna fissipes [Chlidonias leucopterus] et Hirundine [Sterna hirundo] natam".
This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in size and minor plumage details. The tropical forms are resident, but European and Asian birds winter south to Africa and the Indian subcontinent. A tagged whiskered tern was spotted at Manakudi Bird Sanctuary, Kanniyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, India in the month of April 2021.
This species breeds in colonies on inland marshes, sometimes amongst black-headed gulls, which provide some protection. The scientific name arises from the fact that this, the largest marsh tern, show similarities in appearance to both the white Sterna terns and to black tern.
The size, black cap, strong bill (29–34 mm in males, 25–27 mm and stubbier in females, with a pronounced gonys) and more positive flight recall common... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Whiskered Tern in Taroko National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Taroko National Park
White-winged Tern
Chlidonias leucopterus
Little Tern
Sternula albifrons
Crested Tern
Thalasseus bergii
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Black-naped Tern
Sterna sumatrana
Gull-billed Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica
Black-tailed Gull
Larus crassirostris
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
European Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
Oriental Pratincole
Glareola maldivarum
Grey-tailed Tattler
Tringa brevipes
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Whiskered Tern in Taroko National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Whiskered Tern sighting in Taroko National Park, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Whiskered Tern in Taroko National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Whiskered Tern in Taroko National Park in our monthly data.