When not breeding, the greater crested tern will roost or rest on open shores, less often on boats, pilings, harbour buildings and raised salt mounds in lagoons.
Not listed
Indigenous: Crested Tern
At a glance
FamilyGulls, Terns, and Skimmers
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatThe greater crested tern occurs in tropical and warm temperate coastal parts of the Old World from South Africa around the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and Australia.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by David Darrell-Lambert
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
270358approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Black cap does not extend down to the bill. Juvenile is scaly-looking with much more black on the back and wings. Similar Lesser Crested Tern is smaller with black cap extending down to the bill in breeding plumage.
Behavior
Occurs along coasts and estuaries; very rarely further inland or on freshwater ponds/lagoons.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Tasmania
Western Australia
Victoria
South Australia
Queensland
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory