🐦
River Tern
Sterna aurantia
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="sterna-aurantia"></div>
Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/sterna-aurantia/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>
Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/sterna-aurantia/
Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/sterna-aurantia/)
Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="sterna-aurantia"></birdfyi-bird>
Vulnerable
Wingspan
52.4 cm
Weight
187.5 g
Family
Laridae
Order
Charadriiformes
About
River Tern, 38–43 cm, is a large freshwater tern of South and Southeast Asia, found along major rivers from Pakistan to Thailand. Yellow-orange bill, grey back, black cap in breeding plumage. Piscivore; plunge-dives into clear river water. Near Threatened due to river sand-mining and disturbance.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 52.4 cm | 20.6 in |
| Weight | 187.5 g | 6.61 oz |
Habitat & Range
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
IUCN Red List
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 18-19 days.
Clutch Size
3-4
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes (Shorebirds & Gulls) |
| Family | Laridae (Gulls & Terns) |
| Genus | Sterna |
| Species | Sterna aurantia |
Distribution
River Tern has been recorded in 1 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}
Present
Not recorded
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the River Tern endangered?
The River Tern has a conservation status of Vulnerable.
How does the River Tern nest?
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 18-19 days.
How big is the River Tern?
The River Tern has a wingspan of 52.4 cm, weight of 187.5 g.
What order and family does the River Tern belong to?
The River Tern (Sterna aurantia) belongs to the order Charadriiformes and the family Laridae.
Similar Birds
Other species in the Laridae family
African Skimmer
Rynchops flavirostris
Least Concern
Aleutian Tern
Onychoprion aleuticus
Vulnerable
Andean Gull
Larus serranus
Least Concern
Antarctic Tern
Sterna vittata
Least Concern
Arctic Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
Least Concern
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea
Least Concern
Armenian Gull
Larus armenicus
Least Concern
Atlantic White Tern
Gygis alba
Least Concern