UC IUCN · LC · Least Concern Charadriiformes Laridae

Little Tern

Sternula albifrons

UCIOC 2221

Little Tern

Sternula albifrons

Charadriiformes · Laridae

Little Tern (Sternula albifrons).

ATK130

DEF80

XC900572 · Jochem verweij · CC BY-SA 4.0

2161 / 11068

Play in Gacha Battle ↗

Illustration · not to scale

Body Mass: 57 g
Wingspan: 52 cm
Diet: Aquatic prey
Migration: Migratory

⚔️ Ecological Combat Rationale

ATK 130

Ecomorphologically adapted beak and agile strike momentum tailored to its foraging competition niche (ATK 130).

DEF 80

Lightweight agility and protective plumage camouflage favoring rapid evasive maneuverability over raw armor (DEF 80).

* These descriptions interpret game abilities, not measured physical strength. Generated scores use body mass, rarity and balancing rules; legacy cards retain manual values.

How to identify

Detailed field marks are not yet available. Use the linked sources to confirm an identification.

Similar species

Species-specific comparison notes are not yet available. Related birds below are not necessarily lookalikes.

Calls & songs

Jochem verweij · Sources & credits

🌍 Range & Habitat

Distribution: Africa & Palearctic & Oriental & Australasia: Western Europe & Southwestern Russia & Central Asia & Mongolia to Southeastern Russia & Japan & Eastern China & Taiwan and Vietnam; Northern & Western Africa; Persian Gulf and Iraq to Indus Valley (Pakistan) and Gangetic Plain (North-central India); Sri Lanka; Gulf of Thailand & Malay Pen. & Singapore & and islands off Greater Sundas; off New Britain (Southeastern Bismarck Arch.) & Bougainville (Northern Solomon Is.); coastal Northwestern & Northern & Eastern & Southeastern Australia and Tasmania; and Saipan (Southern Northern Mariana Is. & Northwestern Micronesia) Habitat: Coastal

4 · Subspecies & regional ranges

Sternula albifrons albifrons
Europe (except n) and n Africa to c Asia (at least), Iraq and Persian Gulf
Sternula albifrons guineae
coast and Niger River basin, Mauritania to Gabon (w Africa) and n Kenya
Sternula albifrons sinensis
Indus River basin (Pakistan), Gangetic Plain (nc India); Sri Lanka; se Russia through Japan, Korean Pen., e China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Mindanao (s Philippines); Gulf of Thailand, Malay Pen., Singapore, and islands off Greater Sundas; off New Britain (se Bismarck Arch.), Bougainville (n Solomon Is.); coastal nw, n, Australia; and Saipan (s Northern Mariana Is., nw Micronesia)
Sternula albifrons placens
coastal e, se Australia and e Tasmania

IOC World Bird List 15.2 ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is its scientific name?

Sternula albifrons

Which family does it belong to?

Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)

Where is it found?

Africa & Palearctic & Oriental & Australasia: Western Europe & Southwestern Russia & Central Asia & Mongolia to Southeastern Russia & Japan & Eastern China & Taiwan and Vietnam; Northern & Western Africa; Persian Gulf and Iraq to Indus Valley (Pakistan) and Gangetic Plain (North-central India); Sri Lanka; Gulf of Thailand & Malay Pen. & Singapore & and islands off Greater Sundas; off New Britain (Southeastern Bismarck Arch.) & Bougainville (Northern Solomon Is.); coastal Northwestern & Northern & Eastern & Southeastern Australia and Tasmania; and Saipan (Southern Northern Mariana Is. & Northwestern Micronesia)