Home › Aves › Laridae › River Tern (Sterna aurantia)
SPECIES PROFILE
River Tern (Sterna aurantia)
Sterna
IUCN STATUS
Near Threatened
CONSERVATION STATUS
Near Threatened
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Rivers lakes estuaries coastal waters
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
Laridae
GENUS
Sterna
📋 Description
SIZE
38-43 cm long 100-150 g
COLORATION
Black cap in breeding greyish-white body yellow bill red legs
ADAPTATIONS
Strong fliers diving for fish nests on sandy banks
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Rivers lakes estuaries coastal waters
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
REPRODUCTION
Lays 2-3 eggs in ground scrapes incubated 21-23 days
DIET DETAILS
Fish crustaceans aquatic insects
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss sand mining
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Graceful Divers: River Terns dive with 120-gram bodies catching 30 grams of fish daily in Chambal's rivers. Their black caps mark breeding season.
2
River Guardians: These terns cover 4000 sq km in Gujarat's estuaries nesting on sandbars. Dams threaten their breeding sites.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Chambal River in Uttar Pradesh
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat
Chilika Lake in Odisha
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Observe river terns diving over rivers at midday
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
October-March Dry season concentrates fish for spotting terns
