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Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Near Threatened |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 765,000 | |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 34,000,000 | |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Unknown | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 10.2 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.70,000-82,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), while national population estimates include: c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 individuals on migration in China; c.100-100,000 breeding pairs and c.50-10,000 individuals on migration in Taiwan and c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 individuals on migration in Japan (Brazil 2009). | ||||
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is uncertain, as some populations are decreasing, while others are increasing or stable (Wetlands International 2006). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla (to UK) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Antigua and Barbuda | Native | No | |||
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Australia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Austria | Vagrant | No | |||
| Bahamas | Native | No | |||
| Bahrain | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Barbados | Vagrant | No | |||
| Belgium | Vagrant | No | |||
| Belize | Native | No | |||
| Benin | Unknown | No | |||
| Bermuda (to UK) | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Brazil | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Brunei | Vagrant | No | |||
| Cambodia | Unknown | No | |||
| Cameroon | Unknown | No | |||
| Canada | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cayman Islands (to UK) | Unknown | No | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | Unknown | No | |||
| China (mainland) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Christmas Island (to Australia) | Unknown | No | |||
| Colombia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Comoros | Unknown | No | |||
| Cuba | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Curaçao (to Netherlands) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Denmark | Vagrant | No | |||
| Dominica | Native | No | |||
| Dominican Republic | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Egypt | Vagrant | No | |||
| Equatorial Guinea | Unknown | No | |||
| Fiji | Unknown | No | |||
| France | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| French Guiana | Unknown | No | |||
| French Southern Territories | Unknown | No | |||
| Gambia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Germany | Vagrant | No | |||
| Ghana | Native | No | |||
| Gibraltar (to UK) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Grenada | Native | No | |||
| Guadeloupe (to France) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Guatemala | Unknown | No | Yes | ||
| Guinea | Unknown | No | |||
| Guinea-Bissau | Unknown | No | |||
| Guyana | Unknown | No | |||
| Haiti | Native | No | |||
| India | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Indonesia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Unknown | No | |||
| Ireland | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Israel | Vagrant | No | |||
| Jamaica | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Japan | Native | No | |||
| Kenya | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Liberia | Unknown | No | |||
| Libya | Vagrant | No | |||
| Madagascar | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Malaysia | Unknown | No | |||
| Malta | Vagrant | No | |||
| Martinique (to France) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Mauritania | Unknown | No | |||
| Mauritius | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Mayotte (to France) | Unknown | No | |||
| Mexico | Native | No | |||
| Micronesia, Federated States of | Unknown | No | |||
| Montserrat (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Mozambique | Unknown | No | |||
| Myanmar | Vagrant | No | |||
| Nauru | Unknown | No | |||
| Netherlands | Vagrant | No | |||
| New Caledonia (to France) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Nigeria | Unknown | No | |||
| Norfolk Island (to Australia) | Unknown | No | |||
| Norway | Vagrant | No | |||
| Oman | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Pakistan | Unknown | No | |||
| Palau | Unknown | No | |||
| Panama | Unknown | No | |||
| Papua New Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Philippines | Unknown | No | |||
| Poland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Portugal | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Native | No | |||
| Réunion (to France) | Unknown | No | |||
| Saudi Arabia | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| São Tomé e Príncipe | Unknown | No | |||
| Senegal | Unknown | No | |||
| Seychelles | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sierra Leone | Unknown | No | |||
| Singapore | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Sint Maarten (to Netherlands) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Solomon Islands | Native | No | |||
| Somalia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| South Africa | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Spain | Native | No | |||
| Sri Lanka | Native | No | Yes | ||
| St Kitts and Nevis | Native | No | Yes | ||
| St Lucia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| St Martin (to France) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Native | No | |||
| Suriname | Unknown | No | |||
| Sweden | Vagrant | No | |||
| Switzerland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Taiwan (China) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Tanzania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Thailand | Unknown | No | |||
| Timor-Leste | Unknown | No | |||
| Togo | Unknown | No | |||
| Trinidad and Tobago | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| United Arab Emirates | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Native | No | Yes | ||
| USA | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Vanuatu | Vagrant | No | |||
| Venezuela | Native | No | |||
| Vietnam | Vagrant | No | |||
| Virgin Islands (to UK) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Virgin Islands (to USA) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Yemen | Vagrant | No | Yes |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Anguilla (to UK) | Scrub Island |  |
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands | |
| Australia | Bountiful Islands | |
| Australia | Cape York to Cape Grenville Islands | |
| Australia | Haul Round Island | |
| Australia | Higginson Island | |
| Australia | Islet off NE Grooyte Eylandt | |
| Australia | Lacepede Islands | |
| Australia | Low Rocks and Sterna Island (Kimberley) | |
| Australia | Montebello Islands | |
| Australia | Pearce, Urquhart and Hervey Islands (Sir Edward Pellew Group) | |
| Australia | Sandy Island and Low Rock (Gulf of Carpentaria) | |
| Australia | Sunday Island (Exmouth Gulf) | |
| Australia | Swain Reefs | |
| Bahamas | Booby Island | |
| Bahamas | Cay Lobos | |
| Bahamas | Cay Sal | |
| Bahamas | Graham's Harbour | |
| Bahamas | Great Inagua | |
| Bahamas | Guana Cays | |
| Bahamas | North Atlantic Abaco Cays | |
| Bahamas | Tee Cay, Goat Cay and Long Rocks | |
| Belize | Belize Off-shore and Barrier Islands | |
| Brazil | Mangue Seco | |
| Brunei | Brunei Bay | |
| Canada | Country Island Complex | |
| China (mainland) | Dongtou Islands | |
| China (mainland) | Jiushan Islands Nature Reserve | |
| China (mainland) | Taizhou Islands | |
| China (mainland) | Wuyu Dao Island | |
| China (mainland) | Zhongjieshan Islands | |
| France | Baies de Morlaix et de Carantec | |
| France | Cap Gris-nez | |
| France | Ile de Goulmedec | |
| France | Iles de la Colombière, de la Nellière et des Haches | |
| Ghana | Densu Delta Ramsar Site | |
| Ghana | Songor Ramsar Site | |
| Japan | Okinawa coastal islets | |
| Japan | Yaeyama islands | |
| Kenya | Kisite island | |
| Kenya | Kiunga Marine National Reserve | |
| Kenya | Mida Creek, Whale Island and the Malindi - Watamu coast | |
| Madagascar | Cape Anorontany archipelago | |
| Madagascar | Iles Barren complex | |
| Madagascar | Southwestern Coastal Wetlands and Nosy Manitse | |
| Madagascar | Tambohorano wetland Complex | |
| Martinique (to France) | Ilets Boiseau et Petit Piton | |
| Martinique (to France) | Pointe Pain de Sucre | |
| Mauritius | Cargados Carajos shoals (Saint Brandon) | |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Îlots de Poindimié | |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Îlots du lagon sud | |
| New Caledonia (to France) | Îlots du Nord-Ouest | |
| Oman | Bandar Jussah | |
| Oman | Barr al Hikman | |
| Oman | Daymaniyat Islands | |
| Oman | Khawr ad Dahariz | |
| Oman | Khawr Hassan | |
| Oman | Masirah island | |
| Portugal | Capelinhos | |
| Portugal | Contendas | |
| Portugal | Costa das Flores | |
| Portugal | Costa do Corvo | |
| Portugal | Furnas – Santo António | |
| Portugal | Ilhéu da Praia | |
| Portugal | Ilhéu da Vila | |
| Portugal | Ilhéu das Lagoínhas e Costa Adjacente | |
| Portugal | Ilhéu de Baixo e Costa Adjacente | |
| Portugal | Ilhéu do Topo e Costa Adjacente | |
| Portugal | Ponta da Ilha e Terra Alta | |
| Portugal | Ponta de São Lourenço | |
| Portugal | Porto Santo Oeste | |
| Portugal | Ribeirinha | |
| Portugal | Serra Branca | |
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Caño Tiburones | |
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Karso del Sur | |
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Suroeste | |
| Seychelles | Aride island | |
| Seychelles | Etoile island | |
| Somalia | Jasiira lagoon and Muqdisho islets | |
| South Africa | Algoa Bay Island Nature Reserve | |
| Spain | Salmor rocky islets | |
| St Lucia | Point Sables | |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | All Awash Island | |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Petit Canouan | |
| Taiwan (China) | Matsu (Mazu) Islands Tern Refuge | |
| Taiwan (China) | Northeastern Sea Islets | |
| Taiwan (China) | Northern Sea Islets | |
| Taiwan (China) | Southern Sea Islets | |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam coast | |
| Tanzania | Zanzibar Island-South Coast | |
| Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) | Caicos Bank Southern Cays | |
| United Kingdom | Coquet Island | |
| United Kingdom | Farne Islands | |
| United Kingdom | Firth of Forth Islands | |
| United Kingdom | Larne Lough | |
| United Kingdom | North Norfolk Coast | |
| United Kingdom | Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries | |
| Virgin Islands (to UK) | Anegada: Western salt ponds and coastal areas | |
| Virgin Islands (to UK) | Green Cay | |
| Virgin Islands (to USA) | Saba Island and Cays | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) | marginal | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Estuaries | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Estuaries | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Oceanic | Epipelagic (0-200m) | suitable | passage |
| Marine Oceanic | Epipelagic (0-200m) | suitable | breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 18 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Sterna dougallii. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Laridae (Gulls and terns) |
| Species name author | Montagu, 1813 |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Unknown |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 765,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
|
- Summary information on this species - Climate change species distributions | |
|
|