The Chinese crested tern is a tern in the family Laridae. It is the county bird of Lienchiang County, Fuchien.
Region
East China Sea and South China Sea
Typical Environment
Breeds on small offshore islets off eastern China (notably Zhejiang and Fujian) and around the Matsu Islands, favoring predator-free sandy or rocky cays. After breeding it disperses south to winter along subtropical to tropical coasts of the South China Sea, reaching parts of Southeast Asia. It forages over inshore waters, tidal rips, and along current lines where small fish school. Human disturbance and egg collection at colonies have historically constrained its breeding range.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 100 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Once thought extinct, the Chinese crested tern was dramatically rediscovered in 2000 in the Matsu Islands. It breeds in mixed colonies, often alongside greater crested terns, and is distinguished by a yellow bill with a black tip and a white forehead patch in breeding plumage. It is one of the world’s rarest seabirds and is the county bird of Lienchiang County (Matsu), Fujian.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
strong flier with buoyant, elastic wingbeats; agile plunge-diver
Social Behavior
Nests in dense colonies on low, open ground, often mixing with greater crested terns for safety in numbers. Forms simple ground scrapes; both parents incubate and feed chicks. Pairs exhibit courtship displays with fish offerings and aerial calling.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Calls are loud, rasping kree-ik and kerrrit notes, often given in flight over colonies. Alarm calls are harsher and repeated rapidly when predators or people approach.
