Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) - BirdLife species factsheet

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia

Current view: Data table and detailed info

Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Hydroprogne caspia (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously placed in the genus Sterna.

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
SACC. 2005 and updates. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm.
Turbott, E.G. 1990. Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand. Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Wellington.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	-

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2018	Least Concern
2016	Least Concern
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	-

Range

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	226,000,000 km²	medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding)	187,000,000 km²	medium
Severely fragmented?	no	-

Population

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	unknown	poor	estimated	2012
Population trend	increasing	-	suspected	-
Generation length	12.2 years	-	-	-

Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.250,000-470,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated at 11,800-14,800 pairs, which equates to 23,600-29,600 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015). National population estimates include: c.50-1,000 individuals on migration and c.50-1,000 wintering individuals in China; c.50-1,000 individuals on migration and c.50-1,000 wintering individuals in Taiwan; < c.50 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 increasing, although some populations are decreasing, stable, or have unknown trends (Delany & Scott 2006). This species has undergone a large and statistically significant increase over the last 40 years in North America (266% increase over 40 years, equating to a 38.3% increase per decade; data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven 2007). The European population trend is estimated to be increasing (BirdLife International 2015).

Country/territory distribution

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
Afghanistan	extant	native				yes
Albania	extant	native			yes
Algeria	extant	native
Angola	extant	native
Anguilla (to UK)	extant	vagrant
Antigua and Barbuda	extant	vagrant
Aruba (to Netherlands)	extant	native
Australia	extant	native		yes
Austria	extant	native				yes
Azerbaijan	extant	native		yes		yes
Bahamas	extant	native
Bahrain	extant	native	yes			yes
Bangladesh	extant	native
Barbados	extant	native
Belarus	extant	native				yes
Belgium	extant	vagrant
Belize	extant	native		yes
Benin	extant	native			yes
Bermuda (to UK)	extant	vagrant
Botswana	extant	native
Brunei	extant	native
Bulgaria	extant	native
Burkina Faso	extant	native
Burundi	extant	vagrant
Cambodia	extant	native
Cameroon	extant	native
Canada	extant	native		yes
Cayman Islands (to UK)	extant	native
Central African Republic	extant	native
Chad	extant	native
China (mainland)	extant	native
Colombia	extant	native
Comoros	extant	native
Congo	extant	native
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the	extant	vagrant
Costa Rica	extant	native			yes
Côte d'Ivoire	extant	native
Croatia	extant	vagrant
Cuba	extant	native
Cyprus	extant	native
Czechia	extant	native
Denmark	extinct	native				yes
Djibouti	extant	native
Dominica	extant	vagrant
Dominican Republic	extant	native
Ecuador	extant	vagrant
Egypt	extant	native		yes
El Salvador	extant	native			yes
Equatorial Guinea	extant	native
Eritrea	extant	native
Estonia	extant	native		yes
Eswatini	extant	vagrant
Ethiopia	extant	native
Faroe Islands (to Denmark)	extant	vagrant
Finland	extant	native		yes		yes
France	extant	native				yes
French Guiana	extant	native
Gabon	extant	native
Gambia	extant	native		yes
Germany	extant	native		yes		yes
Ghana	extant	native
Gibraltar (to UK)	extant	vagrant
Greece	extant	native			yes	yes
Guadeloupe (to France)	extant	vagrant				yes
Guatemala	extant	native
Guinea	extant	native		yes
Guinea-Bissau	extant	native		yes
Haiti	extant	native
Honduras	extant	native
Hong Kong (China)	extant	native
Hungary	extant	native
India	extant	native
Indonesia	extant	native
Iran, Islamic Republic of	extant	native	yes			yes
Iraq	extant	native	yes			yes
Ireland	extant	vagrant
Israel	extant	native
Italy	extant	native
Jamaica	extant	native
Japan	extant	native
Jordan	extant	native			yes
Kazakhstan	extant	native		yes
Kenya	extant	native
Kuwait	extant	native	yes			yes
Kyrgyzstan	extant	vagrant
Laos	extant	native
Latvia	extant	native		yes
Liberia	extant	native
Libya	extant	native
Lithuania	extant	native				yes
Luxembourg	extant	vagrant
Madagascar	extant	native
Malaysia	extant	native
Maldives	extant	native
Mali	extant	native
Malta	extant	native
Martinique (to France)	extant	vagrant
Mauritania	extant	native		yes
Mayotte (to France)	extant	native
Mexico	extant	native
Moldova	extant	native				yes
Mongolia	extant	native		yes
Montenegro	extant	vagrant
Morocco	extant	native
Mozambique	extant	native
Myanmar	extant	native
Namibia	extant	native		yes
Nepal	extant	native
Netherlands	extant	native
New Zealand	extant	native		yes
Nicaragua	extant	native
Niger	extant	native
Nigeria	extant	native
North Macedonia	extant	native			yes
Norway	extant	vagrant
Oman	extant	native			yes	yes
Pakistan	extant	native
Palestine	extant	native				yes
Panama	extant	native
Philippines	extant	native
Poland	extant	native		yes		yes
Portugal	extant	native			yes
Puerto Rico (to USA)	extant	native
Qatar	extant	native	yes
Romania	extant	native
Russia	extant	native		yes		yes
Russia (Asian)	extant	native		yes
Russia (Central Asian)	extant	native		yes
Russia (European)	extant	native		yes		yes
Rwanda	extant	vagrant
Saudi Arabia	extant	native	yes			yes
Senegal	extant	native		yes
Serbia	extant	vagrant
Seychelles	extant	native
Sierra Leone	extant	native
Singapore	extant	native
Slovakia	extant	native				yes
Slovenia	extant	vagrant
Somalia	extant	native
South Africa	extant	native		yes
South Sudan	extant	native	yes		yes
Spain	extant	native	yes
Sri Lanka	extant	native
St Kitts and Nevis	extant	vagrant
St Lucia	extant	vagrant
St Pierre and Miquelon (to France)	extant	native			yes	yes
Sudan	extant	native
Sweden	extant	native		yes		yes
Switzerland	extant	native
Syria	extant	native				yes
Taiwan, China	extant	native			yes
Tanzania	extant	native
Thailand	extant	native
Timor-Leste	extant	native			yes
Togo	extant	native
Trinidad and Tobago	extant	native
Tunisia	extant	native
Türkiye	extant	native	yes
Turkmenistan	extant	native		yes
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK)	extant	native
Uganda	extant	native
Ukraine	extant	native		yes
United Arab Emirates	extant	native	yes			yes
United Kingdom	extant	vagrant
USA	extant	native		yes
Uzbekistan	extant	native		yes
Venezuela	extant	native
Vietnam	extant	native			yes
Virgin Islands (to USA)	extant	vagrant
Western Sahara	extant	native
Yemen	extant	native	yes			yes
Zambia	extant	native
Zimbabwe	extant	native

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Australia	Lake Eyre
Australia	Paroo Floodplain and Currawinya
Australia	Strzelecki Desert Lakes
Canada	Lake St. Martin Islands
Canada	Little George Island
Canada	Pigeon Island
Canada	Presqu'ile Provincial Park
Canada	Sand Reef Islands
Canada	Spruce Island Reef
Canada	The Watchers
Egypt	Hurghada archipelago
Estonia	Irbe strait
Estonia	Kahtla-Kübassaare
Estonia	Väinameri
Finland	Eckerö and Hammarland archipelago
Finland	Itäinen Suomenlahti National Park
Finland	Kirkon-Vilkkiläntura Bay
Finland	Kokkola and Kälviä archipelago
Finland	Kristiinankaupunki southern archipelago
Finland	Krunnit archipelago
Finland	Merenkurkku archipelago
Finland	Oulu region wetlands
Finland	Oura and Enskeri archipelagos
Finland	Pernaja outer archipelago
Finland	Pori archipelago and wetlands
Finland	Porvoo outer archipelago
Finland	Sjölax
Finland	Tammisaari and Inkoo western archipelago
France	Camargue
Gambia	Allahein to Kartung coast
Gambia	Delta du Saloum – Niumi – Tanbi
Gambia	Niumi National Park
Gambia	Tanbi wetland complex
Gambia	Tanji River (Karinti) Bird Reserve
Germany	Coast and lagoons of Western Pomerania
Germany	Danube valley: Neu-Ulm - Lauingen incl. Faiminger Stausee, Donau-Moos, and Gundelfinger Moos
Germany	Greifswalder Bodden
Germany	Vogelfreistätte Mittlere Isar-Stauseen
Germany	Wagbach lowlands
Ghana	Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site
Greece	Lake Amvrakia
Greece	Mesolongi and Aitoliko lagoons, Acheloos delta and Evinos estuary
Guinea	Iles Tristao
Guinea-Bissau	Arquipélago dos Bijagós
Guinea-Bissau	Arquipélago dos Bijagós - marine
Guinea-Bissau	Rio Cacheu
Guinea-Bissau	Rio Mansôa and Gêba estuary
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Bahu Kalat (Gandu) Protected Area
Kenya	Tana River Delta
Lithuania	Nemunas delta regional Park
Mali	Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo
Mali	Lac Horo
Mauritania	Aftout Es Sâheli
Mauritania	Banc d'Arguin National Park
Mauritania	Cap Blanc
Mauritania	Diawling National Park
Mauritania	Lac d'Aleg
Mexico	Cuitzeo
Mongolia	Khar Lake
Mongolia	Khar Us Lake
Morocco	Baie d'Ad Dakhla
Namibia	Sandwich Harbour
Namibia	Walvis Bay
Netherlands	Haringvliet
Netherlands	Ketelmeer & Vossemeer
Netherlands	Lake IJsselmeer
Netherlands	Lauwersmeer
Oman	Barr al Hikman
Oman	Duqm
Oman	Khawr Ghawi
Oman	Masirah island
Romania	Black Sea
Romania	Danube Delta
Russia (Central Asian)	Chanovskaya lake system
Russia (European)	Delta of the Kuban' river
Russia (European)	Delta of the River Don
Russia (European)	Dolgy Reef and Bol'shoi Fiskar archipelagos
Russia (European)	Islands in the western part of Lake Manych-Gudilo
Russia (European)	Khanskoye Lake
Russia (European)	Kiziltash limans
Russia (European)	Mouth of Samur river
Russia (European)	Valaamski archipelago
Russia (European)	Yeiski salt-lakes
Saudi Arabia	Jiddah south corniche and port
Saudi Arabia	Tarut Bay
Senegal	Delta du Saloum
Senegal	Delta du Saloum - marine
Senegal	Kalissaye Avifaunal Reserve
Senegal	La Petite Côte
Senegal	Parc National de Basse Casamance
Senegal	Parc National de la Langue de Barbarie - marine
South Africa	Berg River Estuary
South Africa	iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Sweden	Archipelago of Östergötland
Sweden	Archipelago of Stockholm
Sweden	Bay of Brå – Hävringe Island
Sweden	Bay of Strandstugu
Sweden	Coastal area (including seaside meadows) of Eastern Öland
Sweden	Coastal area of Eastern Gotland
Sweden	Coastal area of Oskarshamn
Sweden	Gräsö Archipelago
Sweden	Holmöarna Archipelago
Sweden	Lake Storhjälmaren
Sweden	Ledskär – Bay of Karlholm
Sweden	Lövsta Bight – Björn Archipelago
Sweden	Rödkallen – Söräspen Islands
Taiwan, China	Budai Wetlands
Türkiye	Büyük Menderes Delta
Türkiye	Gediz Delta
Türkiye	Keban Islands
Türkiye	South Keban Dam
Türkiye	Tuz Lake
Ukraine	Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays
Ukraine	Syvash Bay
United Arab Emirates	Al Zorah (Khor Ajman)
USA	East Sand Island
Yemen	Aden
Yemen	Bahr Ibn Abbas - Ra's Isa
Yemen	Islands north of Al-Hudaydah

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over 8ha)	suitable	breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over 8ha)	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes	suitable	breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	Coastal Freshwater Lakes	suitable	breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	Coastal Freshwater Lakes	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Intertidal	Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses)	suitable	breeding
Marine Intertidal	Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses)	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Estuaries	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Estuaries	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Macroalgal/Kelp	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Macroalgal/Kelp	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Pelagic	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Pelagic	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Seagrass (Submerged)	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Seagrass (Submerged)	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Subtidal Sandy	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Subtidal Sandy	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Subtidal Sandy-Mud	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Subtidal Sandy-Mud	suitable	non-breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands	major	breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)	suitable	breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)	suitable	non-breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)	suitable	breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)	suitable	non-breeding
Altitude		Occasional altitudinal limits

Threats & impact

Threat (level 1)

Threat (level 2)

Impact and Stresses

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target)

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Negligible declines

Low Impact: 4

Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality

Human intrusions & disturbance

Recreational activities