Caspian Tern

Harsh, growling kurrr-uk calls alternate with shorter bark-like notes. The rough voice carries easily over open water.

Widely scattered across every continent except Antarctica; breeds locally on temperate coasts and inland lakes of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, wintering mainly along warmer coastlines.

Breeds on sparsely vegetated islands in large lakes, coastal lagoons, estuaries and barrier beaches; forages over fresh and saltwater, including bays, rivers and near-shore ocean.

In North America it nests from April–July, migrates southward August–October, and winters along Gulf, Atlantic and Pacific coasts as well as Caribbean and South America.

The Caspian Tern is the world’s largest tern, a powerfully built seabird almost gull-sized, with a thick neck, broad pointed wings and a massive coral-red bill. Its clean white body, pale silvery-gray back and black cap give it a crisp, striking look in flight as it patrols high above the water before plunging head-first after fish.