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Species › Birds

Whiskered Tern

Chlidonias hybrida

Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Laridae
Presence in the Strait
Migrant
Abundance
scarce
Protection in Spain
Special protection (List)
In Spanish
Fumarel cariblanco

39% of its open observations in the area are from April.

Photograph: Benoit NABHOLZ, CC BY-SA, vía iNaturalist

Length
23–25 cm
Wingspan
70–75 cm
Weight
85 g
020406080LENGTH23–25 cmWINGSPAN70–75 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Scarce migrant to coasts and wetlands. It used to be one of the most abundant breeding species in La Janda at the end of the 19th Century. It stopped breeding in the ‘50s.

Identification

Like a Black Tern but with dark grey breeding plumage with white cheek, black hood and red bill. In winter, white forehead and cheek, more diffuse hood and no breast patch; it is easy to confuse with a Common Tern although it is smaller and its tail is less forked. Juveniles are similar to those of a Black Tern but with light-grey wings and gingery mottled mantle.

Movements

Peaks in 1st hf. April and 2nd hf. August.

Ring recoveries

Spain (2), France (1).

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.