Head to head
Gull-billed Tern vs Common Tern
Gull-billed Tern
VS Common Tern
The gull-billed tern and common tern are both widespread terns, but one has traded the typical fish-focused tern diet for something far more varied.
| Gull-billed Tern | Common Tern | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gelochelidon nilotica | Sterna hirundo |
| Bill shape | Thick, gull-like | Slender, pointed |
| Typical prey | Insects, small reptiles, fish | Small fish |
| Hunting ground | Land and water | Mainly water |
| Native range | Multiple continents | North America, Europe, Asia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Coastal, wetlands, grassland | Coastal, wetlands |
Gull-billed Tern vs Common Tern: common questions
How is the gull-billed tern's diet different from the common tern's?
The gull-billed tern eats insects and small reptiles as readily as fish, often hunting over dry land, while the common tern relies much more heavily on small fish caught by plunge-diving directly into the water.
How can you tell a gull-billed tern from a common tern?
The bill is the clearest giveaway: the gull-billed tern has a thick, black, gull-like bill, while the common tern has a slender, pointed red-orange bill tipped with black.
Which species is more tied to water, the gull-billed tern or the common tern?
The common tern is far more tied to water, hunting almost exclusively over the surface for small fish, while the gull-billed tern hunts as readily over dry land and grassland as it does over open water.