- Thalasseus bernsteini
Sterna bernsteini
Identification
42 cm (16½ in)
- Pale grey mantle
- Pale grey upperparts and wings
- White underparts and rump
- Black crest
- White forked tail
- Orange, black-tipped bill
- Black legs and feet
Similar Species
They have a stouter bill than Lesser Crested Tern.
Distribution
Asia: found in coastal eastern China; winters to Thailand, Borneo and Moluccas
Status
Classified as Critically Endangered in the 2008 IUCN Red List2
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
As with its relatives, formerly placed in the genus Sterna.
Habitat
Exclusively coastal and pelagic.
Behaviour
Breeding
It is a ground nester.
Diet
The diet consists almost entirely of fish.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Photo by Mark Bruce
Matsu, Taiwan
Photo by Mark Bruce
Matsu, Taiwan
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- BirdLife International
- Birding in Taiwan
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Chinese Crested Tern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chinese_Crested_Tern
