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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Laridae
  4. ›
  5. Gelochelidon
  6. ›
  7. Australian Tern

BirdUp · Species

Australian Tern

Gelochelidon macrotarsa(Gould, 1837)

Origin: Native
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Laridae
Genus
Gelochelidon

At a glance

The Australian Tern is a large bird, about 35–38 cm long, native to Australia.

Size
35–38 cm
Origin
Native
  • Identification
  • Where
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Australian Tern look like?

The Australian Tern is a large bird, about 35–38 cm long and weighing 160–345 g.

The Australian tern or Australian gull-billed tern is a tern in the family Laridae, native to Australia. The genus name is from Ancient Greek gelao, "to laugh", and khelidon, "swallow".

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
35–38 cm
Weight
160–345 g
Wingspan
76 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Australian Tern eat?

The Australian Tern feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, terrestrial vertebrates, intertidal invertebrates, fish/invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Australian Tern live in Australia?

The Australian Tern is native to Australia.

Breeding range
Inland Australia (except south-central, Tasmania)
Non-breeding range
To coastal south New Guinea and Timor (east Lesser Sundas)