Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide
Hydroprogne caspia
Pronounced (approx.): hye-droh-PROG-nee KAS-pee-uh
A powerful tern with a thick red bill, long pointed wings, and a shallowly forked tail. [1]
Select the main image to browse all 10 photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Scan open water for birds searching with their bills pointed down, then check nearby beaches, sandbars, or logs for resting groups. [1]
Use the range map for seasonal context and the observation map to explore reported sightings near you.
Listen for rhythm and tone, then compare what you hear with the bird’s appearance and habitat.
Compare with gulls and smaller terns. Caspian Terns combine a very heavy bill with pointed wings; use size and bill shape together. [1]
Photographs © Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife. Select any image to open the gallery.
Showing 8 of 10 photographs.
Pairs nest on open sand, gravel, or similar sparsely vegetated ground. Adults find fish from the air and dive into the water. Young may accompany a parent during migration and continue receiving food. [2]
Explore reported observations and photographs on iNaturalist. Zoom to your area and use date filters to investigate seasonal sightings.
Reported sightings are not a complete range map. A lack of records does not necessarily mean the species is absent.
Choose a photograph and name three clues you can see. Compare another view to learn how angle, age, season, and lighting change the bird’s appearance.