The Gull-billed Tern or the Common Gull-billed Tern breeds mostly on the coast or near lakes and river valleys in southern U.S. to northern Mexico, southern Europe, and Asia near the Caspian sea and the eastern China coast. They winter in Central America, South American coasts, coasts and rivers in Africa, and southern Australasia.

Besides small fish, Gull-billed Terns also eat insects including grasshoppers, dragonflies, moths, grubs, siders, small reptiles, and frogs.