The whiskered tern 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".
Region
Europe, Africa, and Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds widely across temperate Europe and western to central Asia in freshwater marshes, lakes, and river deltas. Eastern and southeastern populations extend through South and Southeast Asia, with some reaching Australia. In the non-breeding season many birds disperse to tropical Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Prefers shallow, vegetated wetlands with extensive emergent plants, but also uses flooded fields, reservoirs, and coastal lagoons.
Altitude Range
0–2500 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Whiskered terns are marsh terns that often feed high over wetlands, hawking insects more like swallows than typical fish-diving terns. In breeding plumage they show a neat white cheek contrasting with a black cap, giving the “whiskered” look. They nest colonially on floating vegetation or artificial rafts and readily use rice paddies and reservoirs. Outside breeding, they become much paler with a dark ear patch and forage in loose flocks.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
buoyant, agile flight with short rapid wingbeats and frequent glides
Social Behavior
Strongly colonial breeder, often forming mixed colonies with other marsh terns and gulls. Nests are shallow cups on floating vegetation or platforms anchored in reedbeds. Generally seasonally monogamous, with both sexes sharing incubation and chick rearing. Outside breeding, gathers in loose flocks that roost communally on rafts or exposed vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Calls are sharp, harsh and chattering, including repeated krek or kirrick notes, especially over colonies. In flight, gives softer contact calls to maintain flock cohesion.
Plumage
In breeding season, dark grey body with paler grey wings, clean white cheeks, and a glossy black cap; tail slightly forked. In non-breeding season, upperparts pale grey, underparts mostly white, with a dusky ear patch and a dark carpal bar on the wing.
Diet
Takes flying and aquatic insects such as dragonflies, beetles, and midges, often caught on the wing over wetlands. Also picks small fish, tadpoles, and aquatic invertebrates from the surface, and occasionally small amphibians. Rarely plunge-dives deeply like sea terns, preferring surface-dipping and aerial hawking.
Preferred Environment
Feeds over freshwater marshes, reed-fringed lakes, flooded meadows, and rice fields; also uses estuaries and coastal lagoons during dispersal. Often forages just above emergent vegetation and calm water surfaces where prey concentrates.
