Data Zone
Taxonomic note
Onychoprion fuscatus (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously placed in the genus Sterna as S. fuscata.
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.
| Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
| Year | Category | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Least Concern | |
| 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 |
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | does not normally occur in forest |
| Land-mass type | Average mass | 175 g |
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 195,000,000 km2 | |
| Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) | 250,000,000 km2 | |
| Severely fragmented? | no | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population size | 23000000 mature individuals | poor | estimated | 2020 |
| Population trend | unknown | - | - | - |
| Generation length | 11.1 years | - | - | - |
Population justification: The global population is estimated to number c.35 million individuals (Wetlands International 2020), which roughly equates to 23 million mature individuals.
Trend justification: The overall population trend is uncertain, as some populations are fluctuating, some are stable and others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2020).
| Country/Territory | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | extant | native | yes | |||
| Angola | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Anguilla (to UK) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Antigua and Barbuda | extant | native | ||||
| Argentina | extant | native | ||||
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | extant | native | ||||
| Australia | extant | native | yes | |||
| Bahamas | extant | native | ||||
| Bahrain | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
| Bangladesh | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Barbados | extant | native | ||||
| Belgium | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Belize | extant | native | ||||
| Benin | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Bermuda (to UK) | extant | native | ||||
| Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Brazil | extant | native | ||||
| British Indian Ocean Territory | extant | native | yes | |||
| Cambodia | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Cameroon | extant | native | ||||
| Canada | extant | native | ||||
| Cape Verde | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Cayman Islands (to UK) | extant | native | ||||
| Chile | extant | native | ||||
| China (mainland) | extant | native | ||||
| Christmas Island (to Australia) | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands (to Australia) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Colombia | extant | native | ||||
| Comoros | extant | native | ||||
| Congo | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Cook Islands | extant | native | yes | |||
| Costa Rica | extant | native | ||||
| Côte d'Ivoire | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Cuba | extant | native | ||||
| Curaçao (to Netherlands) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Denmark | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Djibouti | extant | native | ||||
| Dominica | extant | native | ||||
| Dominican Republic | extant | native | ||||
| Ecuador | extant | native | ||||
| El Salvador | extant | native | ||||
| Equatorial Guinea | extant | native | yes | |||
| Eritrea | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Eswatini | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Fiji | extant | native | yes | |||
| France | extant | vagrant | ||||
| French Guiana | extant | native | ||||
| French Polynesia | extant | native | yes | |||
| French Southern Territories | extant | native | yes | |||
| Gabon | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Gambia | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Germany | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Ghana | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Grenada | extant | native | ||||
| Guadeloupe (to France) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Guam (to USA) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Guatemala | extant | native | ||||
| Guinea | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Guinea-Bissau | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Guyana | extant | native | ||||
| Haiti | extant | native | ||||
| Honduras | extant | native | ||||
| Hong Kong (China) | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Iceland | extant | vagrant | ||||
| India | extant | native | ||||
| Indonesia | extant | native | ||||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | extant | native | yes | |||
| Iraq | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Israel | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Italy | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Jamaica | extant | native | yes | |||
| Japan | extant | native | ||||
| Kenya | extant | native | ||||
| Kiribati | extant | native | yes | |||
| Kuwait | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Liberia | extant | native | ||||
| Madagascar | extant | native | ||||
| Malawi | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Malaysia | extant | native | ||||
| Maldives | extant | native | yes | |||
| Marshall Islands | extant | native | yes | |||
| Martinique (to France) | extant | native | ||||
| Mauritania | extant | native | ||||
| Mauritius | extant | native | yes | |||
| Mayotte (to France) | extant | native | ||||
| Mexico | extant | native | ||||
| Micronesia, Federated States of | extant | native | yes | |||
| Montserrat (to UK) | extant | native | ||||
| Mozambique | extant | native | ||||
| Myanmar | extant | native | ||||
| Namibia | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Nauru | extant | native | yes | |||
| New Caledonia (to France) | extant | native | ||||
| New Zealand | extant | native | yes | |||
| Nicaragua | extant | native | ||||
| Nigeria | extant | native | ||||
| Niue (to New Zealand) | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Norfolk Island (to Australia) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Norway | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Oman | extant | native | yes | |||
| Pakistan | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Palau | extant | native | yes | |||
| Panama | extant | native | ||||
| Papua New Guinea | extant | native | ||||
| Peru | extant | native | ||||
| Philippines | extant | native | ||||
| Pitcairn Islands (to UK) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Portugal | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | extant | native | ||||
| Réunion (to France) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Samoa | extant | native | yes | |||
| São Tomé e Príncipe | extant | native | yes | |||
| Saudi Arabia | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
| Senegal | extant | native | ||||
| Seychelles | extant | native | yes | |||
| Sierra Leone | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Sint Maarten (to Netherlands) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Solomon Islands | extant | native | ||||
| Somalia | extant | native | ||||
| South Africa | extant | native | ||||
| South Korea | extant | native | ||||
| Spain | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Sri Lanka | extant | native | ||||
| St Barthelemy (to France) | extant | native | ||||
| St Helena (to UK) | extant | native | yes | |||
| St Kitts and Nevis | extant | native | ||||
| St Lucia | extant | native | ||||
| St Martin (to France) | extant | native | yes | |||
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | extant | native | ||||
| Sudan | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
| Suriname | extant | native | ||||
| Sweden | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Taiwan, China | extant | native | ||||
| Tanzania | extant | native | yes | |||
| Thailand | extant | native | ||||
| Timor-Leste | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Togo | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Tokelau (to New Zealand) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Tonga | extant | native | yes | |||
| Trinidad and Tobago | extant | native | ||||
| Tunisia | extant | vagrant | ||||
| Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Tuvalu | extant | native | yes | |||
| United Arab Emirates | extant | vagrant | yes | |||
| United Kingdom | extant | vagrant | ||||
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | extant | native | yes | |||
| USA | extant | native | yes | |||
| Vanuatu | extant | native | yes | |||
| Venezuela | extant | native | ||||
| Vietnam | extant | native | ||||
| Virgin Islands (to UK) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Virgin Islands (to USA) | extant | native | yes | |||
| Wallis and Futuna Islands (to France) | extant | uncertain | ||||
| Yemen | extant | native | yes | |||
| Zimbabwe | extant | vagrant |
| Country/Territory | IBA Name |
|---|---|
| American Samoa | Rose Atoll |
| American Samoa | Rose Atoll Marine |
| Anguilla (to UK) | Dog Island |
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands |
| Australia | Houtman Abrolhos |
| Bahamas | Cay Sal |
| Bahamas | North Atlantic Abaco Cays |
| Brazil | Atol das Rocas |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | Eastern Peros Banhos island group |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | Western Great Chagos Bank island group |
| Cook Islands | Suwarrow Atoll Marine |
| Cook Islands | Suwarrow Atoll National Park |
| Dominican Republic | Jaragua National Park |
| French Polynesia | Ilots rocheux de Ua Huka |
| French Polynesia | Ilots rocheux de Ua Pou |
| French Polynesia | Kauehi |
| French Polynesia | Kauehi Marine |
| French Polynesia | Marquesas Marin |
| French Southern Territories | Europa |
| French Southern Territories | Glorieuses Islands |
| French Southern Territories | Juan de Nova |
| Guadeloupe (to France) | Islet of Tête à l’Anglais |
| Jamaica | Morant Cays and Bank |
| Jamaica | Pedro Cays and Bank |
| Kiribati | Millenium (Caroline) Island |
| Kiribati | Millenium (Caroline) Island Marine |
| Kiribati | Orona Atoll (Hull Island) |
| Kiribati | Orona Atoll (Hull Island) Marine |
| Kiribati | Rawaki (Phoenix Island) |
| Kiribati | Starbuck Island |
| Kiribati | Starbuck Island Marine |
| Marshall Islands | Bikar Atoll |
| Marshall Islands | Bikar Atoll Marine |
| Marshall Islands | Taka Atoll |
| Marshall Islands | Taka Atoll Marine |
| Martinique (to France) | Îlets et falaises de Sainte Anne |
| Mauritius | Cargados Carajos Shoals |
| Mauritius | Serpent Island |
| Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) | Guguan Island |
| Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) | Guguan Island Marine |
| Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) | Uracus |
| Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) | Uracus Marine |
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Culebra |
| São Tomé e Príncipe | Tinhosas islands |
| Seychelles | African Banks |
| Seychelles | Aride Island Special Reserve |
| Seychelles | Bird Island |
| Seychelles | Cosmoledo |
| Seychelles | Desnoeufs island |
| Seychelles | Farquhar - South Island and islets |
| St Helena (to UK) | Wideawake Fairs |
| St Lucia | Point Sables |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Petit Canouan |
| Tanzania | Latham Island |
| Tonga | Fonualei |
| Tonga | Fonualei Marine |
| Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) | Turks Bank Seabird Cays |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Baker Island |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Howland and Baker Marine |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Howland Island |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Jarvis Island |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Jarvis Island Marine |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Johnston Atoll |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Johnston Atoll Marine |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Palmyra Atoll |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Palmyra Atoll Marine |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Wake Island |
| United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) | Wake Island Marine |
| USA | Northwestern Hawaiian Islands |
| Venezuela | Refugio de Fauna Silvestre Isla de Aves |
| Virgin Islands (to USA) | Saba Island and Cays |
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Rocky Shoreline | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc | major | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches | major | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Tidepools | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Oceanic | Epipelagic (0-200m) | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Oceanic | Epipelagic (0-200m) | major | breeding |
| Marine Oceanic | Mesopelagic (200-1000m) | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Oceanic | Mesopelagic (200-1000m) | major | breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 50 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
| 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%) | Rapid Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Unspecified species | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Declines | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases - Felis catus | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Rapid Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases - Named species | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Rapid Declines | Medium Impact: 6 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
| Purpose | Scale |
|---|---|
| Food - human | subsistence, national |
| Pets/display animals, horticulture | international |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sooty-tern-onychoprion-fuscatus on 26/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 26/12/2024.