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LC
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

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 Lower Risk/Least Concern

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) 10,000,000 medium
Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) 27,900,000 medium
Number of locations -
Fragmentation -

Population & trend

  Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals poor Estimated 2009
Population trend Stable -
Number of subpopulations - - -
Largest subpopulation - - -
Generation length (yrs) 9.9 - - -
Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.300,000-1,500,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), while national population estimates include: c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 individuals on migration in China; c.50-10,000 wintering individuals in Taiwan; < c.1,000 individuals on migration in Korea; c.50-1,000 individuals on migration and < c.50 wintering individuals in Japan and c.100-10,000 breeding pairs and c.50-1,000 individuals on migration in Russia (Brazil 2009).
Trend justification: The overall population trend is fluctuating, although some populations are stable and others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006).

Country/Territory distribution

Country/Territory Occurrence status Extinct Breeding Non-breeding Passage
Afghanistan Native No     Yes
Albania Native No      
Algeria Native No      
Angola Native No      
Armenia Native No Yes    
Australia Native No Yes    
Austria Native No     Yes
Azerbaijan Native No      
Bahrain Native No     Yes
Bangladesh Native No      
Barbados Vagrant No      
Belarus Native No Yes    
Belgium Vagrant No      
Bosnia and Herzegovina Native No Yes    
Botswana Native No      
Brunei Native No      
Bulgaria Native No Yes    
Burkina Faso Vagrant No      
Burundi Vagrant No      
Cambodia Native No      
Cameroon Vagrant No      
Cape Verde Vagrant No      
Côte d'Ivoire Native No      
Central African Republic Native No      
Chad Native No      
China (mainland) Native No      
Christmas Island (to Australia) Vagrant No      
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Vagrant No      
Croatia Native No Yes    
Cyprus Native No      
Czech Republic Native No Yes    
Denmark Vagrant No      
Djibouti Vagrant No      
Egypt Native No      
Equatorial Guinea Native No      
Eritrea Vagrant No      
Ethiopia Native No      
Finland Vagrant No      
France Native No     Yes
Gambia Native No      
Germany Native No Yes   Yes
Ghana Native No      
Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant No      
Greece Native No Yes   Yes
Guam (to USA) Native No   Yes  
Guinea Native No      
Guinea-Bissau Native No      
Hong Kong (China) Native No      
Hungary Native No Yes    
Iceland Vagrant No      
India Native No      
Indonesia Native No      
Iran, Islamic Republic of Native No     Yes
Iraq Native No     Yes
Ireland Vagrant No      
Israel Native No     Yes
Italy Native No     Yes
Japan Native No      
Jordan Native No     Yes
Kazakhstan Native No Yes    
Kenya Native No      
Kuwait Native No   Yes Yes
Laos Native No      
Latvia Native No Yes    
Lebanon Native No Yes   Yes
Lesotho Vagrant No      
Liberia Native No      
Libya Native No      
Lithuania Native No Yes    
Luxembourg Vagrant No      
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Native No Yes    
Madagascar Native No      
Malawi Native No      
Malaysia Native No   Yes  
Maldives Vagrant No      
Mali Native No      
Malta Vagrant No      
Mauritania Native No      
Micronesia, Federated States of Native No   Yes  
Moldova Native No      
Mongolia Native No Yes    
Montenegro Native No     Yes
Morocco Native No      
Mozambique Native No      
Myanmar Native No      
Namibia Native No      
Nepal Native No      
New Zealand Vagrant No      
Niger Native No      
Nigeria Native No      
Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) Native No   Yes  
Norway Vagrant No      
Oman Native No   Yes Yes
Pakistan Native No      
Palau Native No   Yes  
Palestinian Authority Territories Native No     Yes
Papua New Guinea Native No      
Philippines Native No      
Poland Native No Yes    
Portugal Native No Yes    
Qatar Native No   Yes Yes
Romania Native No Yes   Yes
Russia (Asian) Native No Yes    
Russia (Central Asian) Native No Yes    
Russia (European) Native No Yes   Yes
Rwanda Vagrant No      
Saudi Arabia Native No   Yes Yes
Senegal Native No      
Serbia Native No     Yes
Seychelles Vagrant No      
Sierra Leone Native No      
Singapore Native No      
Slovakia Native No Yes    
Somalia Native No      
South Africa Native No      
South Korea Native No      
South Sudan Native No     Yes
Spain Native No     Yes
Sri Lanka Native No      
Sudan Native No      
Swaziland Native No      
Sweden Vagrant No      
Switzerland Native No      
Syria Native No     Yes
Taiwan (China) Native No      
Tajikistan Native No      
Tanzania Native No      
Thailand Native No   Yes  
Timor-Leste Native No   Yes  
Togo Native No      
Tunisia Native No      
Turkey Native No Yes    
Turkmenistan Native No Yes    
Uganda Native No      
Ukraine Native No Yes   Yes
United Arab Emirates Native No   Yes Yes
United Kingdom Vagrant No      
USA Vagrant No      
Uzbekistan Native No Yes    
Vietnam Native No   Yes  
Western Sahara Native No      
Yemen Native No   Yes Yes
Zambia Native No      
Zimbabwe Native No      

Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria

Country/Territory IBA Name IBA link
Australia Alligator Rivers Floodplains site factsheet
Australia Fortescue Marshes site factsheet
Australia Mandora Marsh and Anna Plains site factsheet
Azerbaijan Lake Mahmudchala site factsheet
Botswana Lake Ngami site factsheet
Bulgaria Belene Islands Complex site factsheet
Bulgaria Hadzi Dimitrovo Fish-ponds site factsheet
Bulgaria Kalimok Complex site factsheet
Bulgaria Malak Preslavets marsh site factsheet
Bulgaria Mechka Fish-ponds site factsheet
Bulgaria Obnova Fish-ponds site factsheet
Bulgaria Srebarna site factsheet
Bulgaria Tsibarsko Marsh site factsheet
Bulgaria Zvanichevo Fish-ponds site factsheet
Cambodia Bassac Marsh site factsheet
Cambodia Chhnuk Tru site factsheet
Croatia Grudnjak fish-ponds site factsheet
Egypt Lake Burullus Protected Area site factsheet
Egypt Lake Manzala site factsheet
France Brenne centrale site factsheet
France Camargue site factsheet
France Etang de Capestang site factsheet
France Etangs de Sologne: étang de l'Arche site factsheet
France Etangs de Sologne: St Viatre, Marcilly-en-Gault et forêt de Bruadan site factsheet
France Etangs de Vendres, Pissevache et Lespignan site factsheet
France Etangs Montpellierains site factsheet
France Etangs Narbonnais site factsheet
France La Dombes site factsheet
France Marais de Brière site factsheet
France Petite Camargue fluvio-lacustre site factsheet
France Plaine du Forez site factsheet
Ghana Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site site factsheet
Greece Agra artificial lake site factsheet
Greece Amvrakikos gulf site factsheet
Greece Lake Chimaditis and Lake Zazaris site factsheet
Greece Lake Kerkini site factsheet
Greece Lake Mitrikou (Ismarida) site factsheet
Hungary Alkaline lakes of Kiskunság site factsheet
Hungary Bodrogzug–Taktaköz site factsheet
Hungary Borsodi-Mezőség site factsheet
Hungary Lake Kis-Balaton site factsheet
India Kole Wetland site factsheet
India Sulekere Lake site factsheet
India Vembanad Lake site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Anzali Mordab complex site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gomishan marshes and Turkoman steppes site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Hamoun-i Sabari and Hamoun-i Hirmand site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Bibishervan and Lake Eymar site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Uromiyeh site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lapoo - Zargmarz ab-bandans site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Seyed Mohalli, Zarin Kola and Larim Sara site factsheet
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa site factsheet
Iraq Haur Al Hammar site factsheet
Israel Carmel coast site factsheet
Kenya Tana River Delta site factsheet
Madagascar Bemamba Wetland Complex site factsheet
Madagascar Mangoky - Ankazoabo Forest SAPM site factsheet
Malaysia Pulau Bruit National Park site factsheet
Mali Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo site factsheet
Pakistan Haleji Wildlife Sanctuary site factsheet
Poland Biebrza river valley site factsheet
Poland Brzeszcze ponds site factsheet
Poland Druzno lake site factsheet
Poland Jeziorsko reservoir site factsheet
Poland Lower Skawa River Valley site factsheet
Poland Middle Warta River Valley site factsheet
Poland Nielisz Site site factsheet
Poland Polesie site factsheet
Poland Siemianowka Reseirvoir site factsheet
Poland Upper Vistula River Valley site factsheet
Poland Warta River Mouth site factsheet
Portugal Cabrela site factsheet
Portugal Paul do Boquilobo site factsheet
Romania Black Sea site factsheet
Romania Calafat - Ciuperceni - Dunăre site factsheet
Romania Cefa fish-ponds and Radvani wood site factsheet
Romania Comana site factsheet
Romania Danube Delta site factsheet
Romania Dunărea Veche (Braţul Măcin) site factsheet
Romania Ilfov reservoir site factsheet
Romania Lake Beibugeac (Plopu) site factsheet
Romania Lake Brateş site factsheet
Romania Lake Bugeac site factsheet
Romania Lake Dunăreni site factsheet
Romania Lake Gălăţui site factsheet
Romania Lake Oltina site factsheet
Romania Maglavit site factsheet
Romania Măxineni site factsheet
Romania Prut river flood-plain - Vlădeşti - Frumuşiţa site factsheet
Russia (European) Delta of the Kuban' river site factsheet
Russia (European) Delta of the River Don site factsheet
Russia (European) Kizlyar Bay site factsheet
Russia (European) Mouth of Yeya river site factsheet
Serbia Jegricka site factsheet
Serbia Mala vrbica site factsheet
Serbia Uzdin fish-pond site factsheet
Slovakia Senné site factsheet
South Africa Mkuzi Game Reserve site factsheet
Spain Albufera de Valencia marshes site factsheet
Spain Almenara marshes site factsheet
Spain Ampurdán marshes site factsheet
Spain Ebro delta site factsheet
Spain El Hondo wetland site factsheet
Spain El Moro marshes site factsheet
Spain Isla Cristina and Ayamonte marshes and Prado lagoon site factsheet
Spain Mata and Torrevieja lagoons site factsheet
Spain Plain between Cáceres and Trujillo-Aldea del Cano site factsheet
Spain Santa Pola salt-pans site factsheet
Tanzania Eluanata dam site factsheet
Tanzania Nyumba ya Mungu reservoir site factsheet
Thailand Inner Gulf of Thailand site factsheet
Turkey Çavusçu Lake site factsheet
Turkey Batmış Lake (Cil Lake) site factsheet
Turkey Işıklı Lake site factsheet
Turkey Karamık Marshes site factsheet
Turkey Kozanlı Gökgöl site factsheet
Turkey Marmara Lake site factsheet
Turkey Meriç Delta site factsheet
Turkey Sultan Marsh site factsheet
Turkey Terkos Basin site factsheet
Turkey Uluabat Lake site factsheet
Ukraine Fishponds near Kukil'nyky village site factsheet
Ukraine Ikva river valley site factsheet
Ukraine Korotchenkivs'ki meadows site factsheet
Ukraine Kryva peninsula site factsheet
Ukraine Kugurluj and Kartal lakes site factsheet
Ukraine Kyivs'ke reservoir site factsheet
Ukraine Mikulinetskie fish-ponds site factsheet
Ukraine Pryp'yat' river valley site factsheet
Ukraine Snyvoda river valley site factsheet
Ukraine Syvash Bay site factsheet
Ukraine Udaj river valley site factsheet
Zambia Kafue Flats site factsheet
Zambia Liuwa Plain National Park site factsheet

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels) suitable non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable breeding
Marine Intertidal Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha) suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Seasonal/Intermittent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable non-breeding
Altitude 0 - 2000 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
Food (human) Whole Eggs 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: Chlidonias hybrida. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.

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 (Pallas, 1811)
Population size mature individuals
Population trend Stable
Distribution size (breeding/resident) 10,000,000 km2
Country endemic? No
Links to further information
- Summary information on this species
- Climate change species distributions