Caspian Tern Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCaspian Tern
Breeding adult
The largest tern in the world. Note large red bill, tail with only a shallow fork, and black on the underside of outer primary feathers. Breeding adults have a fully black cap.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, April 15, 2017Breeding adult
Note massive, bright-red bill, sometimes with black tip. Breeding adults have fully black cap, sometimes raised in a short crest.
© Esme Rosen / Macaulay LibraryWestern Australia, July 28, 2014Breeding adults and juvenile with Laughing Gulls
Note big, thick-based red bill, thick neck, and squared off or slightly crested head. Juveniles are camouflaged with grayish or brownish markings on the back.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, July 01, 2010Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding adult
Large tern with very large bill. Nonbreeding adults have a grayish crown and reduced black on the head.
© Terence Alexander / Macaulay LibraryQueensland, October 01, 2018Juvenile
Large tern with large reddish bill. Juveniles have brownish markings on the back and a brown-black crown that is often streaky on the forehead.
© Mason Maron / Macaulay LibraryWashington, September 15, 2020Breeding adult
Large tern with massive, red, pointed bill. The large head can look smoothly rounded, squared off, or slightly crested. The outer primaries are dark, especially on the undersides.
© Nick Bonomo / Macaulay LibraryConnecticut, April 24, 2019Nonbreeding adult
Very large tern with broad wings and large, red bill. Undersides of outer primary feathers are dark. Nonbreeding adults and immatures have variable amounts of white on the forehead. Gaps in the wings usually are a sign that the bird is molting.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryIlles Baleares, September 30, 2010Flock
Occurs along seacoasts, barrier islands, estuaries, and saltmarshes, as well as some inland lakes and rivers.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryWestern, January 22, 2014Similar SpeciesRoyal Tern
Breeding adult
Royal Terns are slightly smaller than Caspian Terns with a smaller, more orange bill, without a black tip.
© Randy Harrod / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 19, 2017Similar SpeciesRoyal Tern
Breeding adult
Royal Terns are slightly smaller with a smaller, more orange bill than Caspian Terns. They have less black on the underside of the primary feathers than Caspian Terns.
© Martin Wall / Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, March 30, 2017Similar SpeciesRoyal Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding Royal Terns have extensive white on the crown, whereas Caspian Terns are mostly dark on the top of the head with a small area of streaks or white on the forehead. Royal Terns have this white head pattern for most of the year.
© Maxwell Ramey / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, November 05, 2016Similar SpeciesRoyal Tern
Juvenile
Juvenile Royal Terns have a yellowish bill and extensive white on the crown, whereas young Caspian Terns have reddish bills and all or mostly dark crowns.
© Andrew Haffenden / Macaulay LibraryAlabama, September 17, 2016Similar SpeciesElegant Tern
Breeding adult
Elegant Terns are smaller and slimmer than the bulky-bodied Caspian Tern. Elegant's bill is long, slender, and slightly curved, unlike Caspian's very heavy, bright-red bills.
© David Weber / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 07, 2014Similar SpeciesElegant Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Elegant Terns are smaller and slimmer than Caspian Terns. The Elegant's long, slender bill is orange rather than red. In nonbreeding plumage Elegant has a white forehead.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 08, 2015Similar SpeciesForster's Tern
Breeding adult
Forster's Terns are smaller than Caspian Terns, with a much more slender bill, narrower wings, and a deeply forked tail.
© Steve Tucker / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 06, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Tern
Breeding adult
Common Terns are smaller than Caspian Terns, with a much more slender bill, narrower wings, and a deeply forked tail.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, July 12, 2017Similar SpeciesSandwich Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Sandwich Terns are smaller than Caspian Terns, with a less bulky body, narrower wings, and a more slender, black bill with yellow tip.
© Steve Collins / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, December 11, 2008Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
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