Caspian Tern

1. Massive, thick red-orange bill with a dark tip

2. Large dark patches on the underside of the wingtips

3. Smooth, gull-like wingbeats and robust size

Caspian Terns breed in spring and summer, laying 1-3 pale blue-green, heavily spotted eggs in a simple ground scrape. Both parents share incubation duties, which last 26–28 days. After hatching, chicks remain in or near the nest for about a week and fledge after 35–45 days. Both parents continue to feed and protect the young, sometimes for several weeks after fledging. Caspian Terns feed mainly on fish, which they catch by hovering and diving headfirst into the water. They can travel up to 60 kilometres from their breeding colony to forage`.`

Caspian Terns are found throughout Australia, inhabiting large lakes, rivers, estuaries, coastal lagoons, and reservoirs. They nest on flat, sparsely vegetated islands or sandbanks, often in areas with clear views and low disturbance. Both inland and coastal sites are used, and the species is frequently seen cruising over open water or perched on exposed sandbars and spits