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BIRDGACHA / FIELD NOTES

Gulls, Terns, Skimmers

Gulls, terns, noddies and skimmers share this catalogue family but differ strongly in bill and wing shape. Robust gulls contrast with more slender terns, while skimmers have an unusually long lower mandible; dark noddies and white terns also depart from the familiar grey-backed gull pattern. Examples include African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris), Atlantic White Tern (Gygis alba), and Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus). Fish and aquatic invertebrates are important for many members, but gulls can exploit much broader foods and feeding places. Establish whether the bird is a gull, tern, noddy or skimmer before comparing species, age and seasonal plumage.

How to recognize Gulls, Terns, Skimmers

  • Separate heavy-billed gulls from slender-winged terns before choosing a species.
  • Check age-related plumage, head markings and the colour of legs and bill.
  • Recognize skimmers by the extended lower mandible when naturally visible.
  • Compare resting tail shape with wing proportions during normal flight.

Where they live

The family occurs in coasts, islands and inland waters across much of the world. Seashores, offshore islands, estuaries, rivers, lakes and some inland fields support different members. Breeding colonies and feeding areas can be separated, and migration changes local occurrence; a bird resting on a beach may spend much of its time feeding elsewhere. A waterside location alone cannot settle an identification; bill proportions, wing shape and age-related plumage remain essential checks.

Species accounts: African Skimmer · Atlantic White Tern · Brown Noddy

Sources — natural history: BTO: gull and tern identification, feeding and habitats · Cornell Birds of the World: African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris), species natural history.

Classification: IOC World Bird List: family names and classification.

Some Cornell Birds of the World account sections require a subscription.

Updated 2026-11-06. Species counts follow this site's catalogue. This is an editorial summary, not an expert peer review.

Explore similarities in appearance, feeding and habitat. These comparisons do not necessarily indicate the closest evolutionary relatives.

Species records retain their original English, Chinese and scientific names.

106 results · page 1 of 3

African SkimmerAfrican SkimmerRynchops flavirostrisIndian SkimmerIndian SkimmerRynchops albicollisBlack SkimmerBlack SkimmerRynchops nigerAtlantic White TernAtlantic White TernGygis albaBlue-billed White TernBlue-billed White TernGygis candidaLittle White TernLittle White TernGygis microrhynchaBrown NoddyBrown NoddyAnous stolidusLesser NoddyLesser NoddyAnous tenuirostrisBlack NoddyBlack NoddyAnous minutusGrey NoddyGrey NoddyAnous albivittaBlue NoddyBlue NoddyAnous ceruleusAleutian TernAleutian TernOnychoprion aleuticusSooty TernSooty TernOnychoprion fuscatusBridled TernBridled TernOnychoprion anaethetusSpectacled TernSpectacled TernOnychoprion lunatusLittle TernLittle TernSternula albifronsSaunders's TernSaunders's TernSternula saundersiLeast TernLeast TernSternula antillarumYellow-billed TernYellow-billed TernSternula superciliarisPeruvian TernPeruvian TernSternula lorataFairy TernFairy TernSternula nereisDamara TernDamara TernSternula balaenarumLarge-billed TernLarge-billed TernPhaetusa simplexGull-billed TernGull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaAustralian TernAustralian TernGelochelidon macrotarsaCaspian TernCaspian TernHydroprogne caspiaInca TernInca TernLarosterna incaWhiskered TernWhiskered TernChlidonias hybridaBlack-fronted TernBlack-fronted TernChlidonias albostriatusBlack TernBlack TernChlidonias nigerWhite-winged TernWhite-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusRiver TernRiver TernSterna aurantiaForster's TernForster's TernSterna forsteriSnowy-crowned TernSnowy-crowned TernSterna trudeauiArctic TernArctic TernSterna paradisaeaSouth American TernSouth American TernSterna hirundinaceaAntarctic TernAntarctic TernSterna vittataKerguelen TernKerguelen TernSterna virgataCommon TernCommon TernSterna hirundoWhite-cheeked TernWhite-cheeked TernSterna repressaBlack-naped TernBlack-naped TernSterna sumatranaRoseate TernRoseate TernSterna dougalliiWhite-fronted TernWhite-fronted TernSterna striataBlack-bellied TernBlack-bellied TernSterna acuticaudaSandwich TernSandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisCabot's TernCabot's TernThalasseus acuflavidusElegant TernElegant TernThalasseus elegansLesser Crested TernLesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis