Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls
River Tern
Sterna aurantia
- Family
- Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls (Laridae)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
Overview
The river tern or Indian river tern (Sterna aurantia) is a tern in the family Laridae, the largest species currently included in the genus Sterna of typical terns. It is a resident breeder along inland rivers from Pakistan east through the Indian subcontinent, to Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, where it is uncommon. Unlike most Sterna terns, it is almost exclusively found on freshwater, rarely venturing even to tidal creeks.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Rivers of Indus Valley (Pakistan), sub-Himalayan India, northwestern and central Myanmar, southwestern China, and southeastern Cambodia (formerly also southern Vietnam).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: River tern
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
