White-winged Tern vs Heermann's Gull
Chlidonias leucopterus compared with Larus heermanni
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-winged Tern | Heermann's Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlidonias leucopterus | Larus heermanni |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.6 cm (16.4 in) | 67.2 cm (26.5 in) |
| Weight | 60.5 g (2.13 oz) | 448.26666666666665 g (15.81 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
White-winged Tern
Near Threatened
Heermann's Gull
About These Birds
White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern, 20–23 cm, breeds in wetlands from Eastern Europe to Central Asia and winters in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Australia. Breeding male: jet-black body contrasting with white wings. Insectivore; dips over marshes and rice paddies. Long-distance migrant.
Heermann's Gull
Heermann's Gull, 46–51 cm, is distinctive — dark grey body, white head (breeding), red bill. Breeds almost entirely on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California, then disperses north along the Pacific coast to British Columbia. Kleptoparasite; steals fish from Brown Pelicans. Near Threatened; range highly restricted.