Head to head
Caspian Tern vs Common Tern
Caspian Tern
VS Common Tern
The Caspian tern and common tern sit at opposite ends of the size scale within the tern family, though both are widely distributed and easily observed.
| Caspian Tern | Common Tern | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Hydroprogne caspia | Sterna hirundo |
| Relative size | Largest tern in the world | Mid-sized |
| Bill | Massive, thick, blood-red | Slender, red-orange, black tip |
| Call | Harsh, crow-like | Typical tern calls |
| Native range | Near-global, multiple continents | North America, Europe, Asia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Coastal, wetlands | Coastal, wetlands |
Caspian Tern vs Common Tern: common questions
How much bigger is the Caspian tern than the common tern?
The Caspian tern is substantially bigger, holding the title of largest tern in the world, while the common tern is a much more typically mid-sized tern, considerably smaller and more lightly built by comparison.
Why does the Caspian tern have such a large bill compared to the common tern?
The Caspian tern's massive, thick bill reflects its overall larger body size and lets it take bigger fish than the common tern's more slender, red-orange bill is built to handle.
Do the Caspian tern and common tern sound different?
Yes, the Caspian tern has a distinctively harsh, crow-like call quite unlike the more typical tern calls given by the common tern, making the two identifiable by sound alone in many cases.