Common Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)

Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica

Current view: Data table and detailed info

Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Gelochelidon nilotica and G. macrotarsa (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously placed in the genus Sterna and lumped as S. nilotica following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).

Taxonomic source(s)
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.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	-

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2019	Least Concern
2018	Least Concern
2016	Least Concern
2014	Least Concern
2012	Not Recognised
2008	Not Recognised
2004	Not Recognised
2000	Not Recognised
1994	Not Recognised
1988	Not Recognised

Species attributes

Migratory status	full migrant	Forest dependency	does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type		Average mass	215 g

Range

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	163,000,000 km²
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding)	272,000,000 km²
Severely fragmented?	no	-

Population

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	unknown	-	-	-
Population trend	decreasing	-	suspected	-
Generation length	11.7 years	-	-	-

Population justification: The global population of G. nilotica and G. macrotarsa combined is estimated to number c.150,000-420,000 individuals (Delany and Scott 2006), but the global population of G. nilotica has not been estimated separately following the taxonomic split. The European population is estimated at 16,600-21,200 pairs, which equates to 33,200-42,400 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline owing to habitat loss and degradation in the core of its range (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The European population 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
Algeria	extant	native		yes
Angola	extant	vagrant
Anguilla (to UK)	extant	native			yes
Antigua and Barbuda	extant	native			yes
Argentina	extant	native	yes
Armenia	extant	native		yes
Aruba (to Netherlands)	presence uncertain	uncertain
Australia	extant	native			yes
Azerbaijan	extant	native		yes
Bahamas	extant	native		yes
Bahrain	extant	native			yes	yes
Bangladesh	extant	native			yes
Barbados	extant	native			yes
Belgium	extant	vagrant
Belize	extant	native			yes
Benin	extant	native			yes
Bermuda (to UK)	extant	vagrant
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands)	extant	vagrant
Bosnia and Herzegovina	extant	vagrant
Botswana	extant	vagrant
Brazil	extant	native	yes		yes
Brunei	extant	native			yes
Bulgaria	extant	native		yes
Burkina Faso	extant	native			yes
Burundi	extant	native			yes
Cambodia	extant	native			yes
Cameroon	extant	native			yes
Canada	extant	vagrant
Cayman Islands (to UK)	extant	native			yes
Chad	extant	native			yes
China (mainland)	extant	native	yes	yes
Colombia	extant	native			yes
Comoros	extant	vagrant
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the	extant	native			yes
Costa Rica	extant	native			yes
Côte d'Ivoire	extant	native			yes
Croatia	extant	vagrant
Cuba	extant	native	yes		yes
Curaçao (to Netherlands)	extant	native			yes
Denmark	extant	native		yes
Djibouti	extant	native			yes
Dominica	extant	native			yes
Dominican Republic	extant	native	yes
Ecuador	extant	native	yes
Egypt	extant	native			yes
El Salvador	extant	native			yes
Eritrea	extant	native			yes
Ethiopia	extant	native			yes
Finland	extant	vagrant
France	extant	native		yes
French Guiana	extant	native	yes
Gabon	extant	vagrant
Gambia	extant	native			yes
Germany	extant	native		yes
Ghana	extant	native			yes
Greece	extant	native		yes
Guadeloupe (to France)	extant	native			yes
Guam (to USA)	extant	vagrant
Guatemala	extant	native			yes
Guinea	extant	native			yes
Guinea-Bissau	extant	native			yes
Guyana	extant	native			yes
Haiti	extant	native			yes
Honduras	extant	native
Hungary	extant	vagrant
India	extant	native			yes
Indonesia	extant	native			yes
Iran, Islamic Republic of	extant	native		yes	yes
Iraq	extant	native			yes
Ireland	extant	vagrant
Italy	extant	native		yes
Jamaica	extant	native	yes
Japan	extant	native			yes	yes
Jordan	extant	native		yes
Kazakhstan	extant	native		yes
Kenya	extant	native			yes
Kuwait	extant	native		yes		yes
Kyrgyzstan	extant	native		yes
Lebanon	extant	vagrant
Liberia	extant	native			yes
Libya	presence uncertain	uncertain
Luxembourg	extant	vagrant
Malawi	extant	native			yes
Malaysia	extant	native			yes
Mali	extant	native			yes
Martinique (to France)	extant	native			yes
Mauritania	extant	native		yes	yes
Mexico	extant	native	yes		yes
Mongolia	extant	native		yes
Montenegro	extant	vagrant
Montserrat (to UK)	presence uncertain	uncertain
Morocco	extant	native		yes
Myanmar	extant	native			yes
Nicaragua	extant	native			yes
Niger	extant	native			yes
Nigeria	extant	native			yes
Norway	extant	vagrant
Oman	extant	native			yes	yes
Pakistan	extant	native	yes	yes	yes
Panama	extant	native			yes
Papua New Guinea	extant	native			yes
Peru	extant	native	yes		yes
Philippines	extant	native			yes
Poland	extant	vagrant
Portugal	extant	native		yes
Puerto Rico (to USA)	extant	native	yes
Qatar	extant	native			yes	yes
Romania	extant	native		yes
Russia	extant	native		yes
Russia (Asian)	extant	native		yes
Russia (Central Asian)	extant	native		yes
Russia (European)	extant	native		yes
Rwanda	extant	native			yes
Saudi Arabia	extant	native		yes	yes	yes
Senegal	extant	native			yes
Serbia	extant	vagrant
Seychelles	extant	vagrant
Sierra Leone	extant	native			yes
Singapore	presence uncertain	uncertain
Sint Maarten (to Netherlands)	extant	vagrant
Slovakia	extant	vagrant
Slovenia	extant	vagrant
Somalia	extant	native			yes
South Africa	extant	vagrant
South Korea	extant	vagrant
South Sudan	extant	native			yes
Spain	extant	native		yes
Sri Lanka	extant	native			yes
St Barthelemy (to France)	extant	native
St Kitts and Nevis	presence uncertain	uncertain
St Lucia	extant	vagrant
St Martin (to France)	extant	vagrant			yes
St Vincent and the Grenadines	extant	vagrant
Sudan	extant	native			yes
Suriname	extant	native			yes
Sweden	extant	vagrant
Syria	presence uncertain	native		yes
Taiwan, China	extant	native	yes
Tajikistan	extant	native		yes
Tanzania	extant	native			yes
Thailand	extant	native			yes
Timor-Leste	extant	native			yes
Togo	extant	native			yes
Trinidad and Tobago	extant	native			yes
Tunisia	extant	native		yes
Türkiye	extant	native		yes
Turkmenistan	extant	native		yes
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK)	extant	native		yes
Uganda	extant	native			yes
Ukraine	extant	native		yes
United Arab Emirates	extant	native			yes	yes
United Kingdom	extant	vagrant
Uruguay	extant	native	yes
USA	extant	native	yes	yes	yes
Uzbekistan	extant	native		yes
Venezuela	extant	native			yes
Vietnam	extant	native			yes
Virgin Islands (to UK)	extant	native			yes
Virgin Islands (to USA)	extant	native			yes
Western Sahara	extant	native		yes
Yemen	extant	native			yes	yes
Zambia	extant	native			yes
Zimbabwe	extant	vagrant

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Afghanistan	Ab-i-Istada
Australia	Goyder Lagoon
Australia	Lake Sylvester System
Australia	Mandora Marsh and Anna Plains
Bahamas	Cat Island Wetlands
Bahamas	Great Inagua
Bahamas	Grog Pond
Bahamas	Harrold and Wilson Ponds National Park
Bahamas	Southern Great Lake
China (mainland)	Dongzhaigang
Colombia	Parque Nacional Natural Sanquianga
Cuba	Cayo Sabinal, Ballenatos y Manglares de la Bahía de Nuevitas
Cuba	Humedal Sur de Sancti Spiritus
Ethiopia	Abijatta - Shalla Lakes National Park
France	Camargue
France	Petite Camargue fluvio-lacustre
France	Petite Camargue laguno-marine
Germany	Elbe marshes between Stade and Otterndorf
Germany	Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
Germany	Pinneberg Elbe lowlands
Germany	Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (includes the Halligs, Kniepsand/Amrum, Lister Koog, Rantumbecken, Rickelsb
Ghana	Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site
Greece	Alyki Kitrous lagoon
Greece	Alyki lagoon, Aigio
Greece	Amvrakikos gulf
Greece	Divari Pylou (Gialova) lagoon and Sfaktiria island
Greece	Evros delta
Greece	Mesolongi and Aitoliko lagoons, Acheloos delta and Evinos estuary
Guinea-Bissau	Arquipélago dos Bijagós
Guinea-Bissau	Arquipélago dos Bijagós - marine
Guinea-Bissau	Cantanhez forests
Guinea-Bissau	Ilha de Bolama - Rio Grande de Buba
Guinea-Bissau	Rio Mansôa and Gêba estuary
India	Kole Wetland
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Khouran Straits
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa
Iraq	Khawr Abdallah
Italy	Cagliari wetlands
Italy	Gargano Promontory and Capitanata Wetlands
Italy	Po Delta
Italy	Punte Alberete and Valle della Canna, Pineta San Vitale and Pialassa della Baiona
Italy	Sinis and Oristano wetlands
Italy	Valli di Comacchio and Bonifica del Mezzano
Kazakhstan	Kamysh-Samarskie Lakes
Kazakhstan	Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve
Kazakhstan	Lake Alakol Islands
Kazakhstan	Lesser Aral Sea
Kazakhstan	Sorbulak Lake System
Kenya	Lake Nakuru National Park
Kenya	Tana River Delta
Malaysia	North-central Selangor coast
Malaysia	Pulau Bruit National Park
Mali	Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo
Mauritania	Aftout Es Sâheli
Mauritania	Banc d'Arguin National Park
Mauritania	Diawling National Park
Mexico	Bahía Lechuguilla
Mexico	Bahía Magdalena-Almejas
Mexico	Bahía Santa María
Mexico	Complejo Lagunar Ojo de Liebre
Mexico	Delta del Río Colorado
Mexico	Geotérmica Cerro Prieto
Mexico	Istmo de Tehuantepec - Mar Muerto
Mexico	Lago de Texcoco
Mexico	Laguna Cuyutlán-Estero Palo Verde
Mexico	Lagunas del Playón de Mismaloya
Mexico	Marismas Nacionales
Mexico	Morros de Potosí
Mexico	Sistema Lagunario Huizache - Caimanero
Morocco	Barrage al Massira
Philippines	Manila Bay
Romania	Black Sea
Romania	Danube Delta
Russia (European)	Burukshunskiye limans
Russia (European)	Dadynskiye lakes
Russia (European)	Islands in the western part of Lake Manych-Gudilo
Russia (European)	Khanskoye Lake
Russia (European)	Kiziltash limans
Russia (European)	Kozinka lake and Baranikovski segment of Manych
Russia (European)	Kurnikov liman
Russia (European)	Lake Ayke
Saudi Arabia	Jiddah south corniche and port
Saudi Arabia	Jizan Bay
Saudi Arabia	Tarut Bay
Senegal	Kalissaye Avifaunal Reserve
Spain	Albufera de Valencia marshes
Spain	Alcázar de San Juan-Quero endorreic lagoons
Spain	Campo Arañuelo-Valdecañas reservoir
Spain	Ebro delta
Spain	Fuente de Piedra, Gosque and Campillos lakes
Spain	Gallocanta lake
Spain	Guadalquivir marshes
Spain	Mar Menor coastal lagoon
Spain	Pedro Muñoz-Manjavacas endorreic lagoons
Spain	Pela mountain range-Orellana reservoir-Zorita
Spain	Tembleque-La Guardia plains
Tanzania	Lake Balangida Lelu
Tanzania	Lake Kitangire
Tanzania	Lake Manyara
Tanzania	Nyumba ya Mungu reservoir
Tanzania	Rufiji Delta
Tanzania	Serengeti National Park
Tanzania	Singida lakes
Tunisia	Îles Kneiss
Tunisia	Sebkhet Kelbia
Türkiye	Acıgöl Lake
Türkiye	Akşehir and Eber Lakes
Türkiye	Bolluk Lake
Türkiye	Bulanık and Malazgirt Plains
Türkiye	Çöl Lake and Çalıkdüzü
Türkiye	Erçek Lake
Türkiye	Eşmekaya Marshes
Türkiye	Kozanlı Gökgöl
Türkiye	Kulu Lake
Türkiye	Seyfe Lake
Türkiye	Sultan Marsh
Türkiye	Tuz Lake
Turkmenistan	Goyungyrlan
Turkmenistan	Sarygamysh
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK)	East Caicos and adjacent areas
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK)	Fish Ponds and Crossing Place Trail, Middle Caicos
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK)	North, Middle and East Caicos Ramsar Site
Uganda	Lutembe Bay
Uganda	Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake George
Ukraine	Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays
Ukraine	Kazantip Cape, Aktash lake and Astanins'ka marsh
Ukraine	Syvash Bay
USA	Chenier Plain
Yemen	Aden

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels)	suitable	breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Artificial/Aquatic - Irrigated Land (includes irrigation channels)	suitable	non-breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over 8ha)	major	breeding
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over 8ha)	major	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 Coastal/Supratidal	Coastal Sand Dunes	major	breeding
Marine Intertidal	Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc	major	breeding
Marine Neritic	Estuaries	suitable	breeding
Marine Neritic	Estuaries	suitable	non-breeding
Marine Neritic	Pelagic	marginal	resident
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)	suitable	breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha)	suitable	non-breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)	suitable	breeding
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls)	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	0 - 100 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threats & impact

Threat (level 1)

Threat (level 2)

Impact and Stresses

Human intrusions & disturbance

Recreational activities

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact

Ongoing

Minority (<50%)

Causing/Could cause fluctuations

Low Impact: 5

Stresses
Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success