Pictures and information on Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia

Length	1.6-2.0 ft (48.3-61.0 cm)
Wingspan	4.2-4.6 ft (127.0-140.0 cm)
Weight	1.3-1.7 lb (574-782 g)
Clutch Size	2-3
Chicks at birth	Semi-precocial
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern
Continents:	NA, SA, EU, AF, AS, OC

Videos/Pictures

(feet)

The Caspian Tern is the largest Tern in the world. The large red-orange bill is quite distinctive. Caspian Terns breed around lakes and coasts in North America, Europe, and Asia and migrate south to Central America, northernmost South America, southern Asia and Africa. Year-round residents occur on the coasts of Africa, southern Asia, and Australia.

They are mostly fish eaters and dive for them. We see them frequently in the Bay Area. My favorite place is Middle Harbor, Oakland, CA in August-October.

Juvenile
Juvenile - Forster Terns in front 07/27/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA Juvenile - Forster Terns in front 07/27/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA	07/28/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 07/28/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA	07/28/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 07/28/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA

Breeding (Feb-Oct)
06/28/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA 06/28/2007 - Bodega Bay, CA	05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	Turning around in flight 07/27/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA Turning around in flight 07/27/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
08/12/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 08/12/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA	08/12/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 08/12/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA	08/12/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA 08/12/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
After catching the fish, he flew around and then dragged it thru the water 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA After catching the fish, he flew around and then dragged it thru the water 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	Note the tracking wire by the tail 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA Note the tracking wire by the tail 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	Note the tracking wire by the tail 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA Note the tracking wire by the tail 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA
06/19/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 06/19/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	07/16/2011 - Bodega Bay, CA 07/16/2011 - Bodega Bay, CA	05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA 05/27/2008 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA

Non-breeding (Oct-Feb)
Maybe a begging or courtship behavior 09/17/2014 - Maumee Bay State Park, Ohio Maybe a begging or courtship behavior 09/17/2014 - Maumee Bay State Park, Ohio	11/15/2012 - Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah 11/15/2012 - Tracy Aviary, Salt Lake City, Utah

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