Spectacled Tern

Onychoprion lunatus (Peale, 1849)

120 gWeight

Most records: U.S. Outlying Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Most records: U.S. Outlying Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati

Spectacled Tern has been recorded at 28 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 10 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Midway Atoll NWR – Eastern IslandU.S. Outlying Islands231 records
TetiaroaFrench Polynesia77 records
Rangiroa – Tiputa PassFrench Polynesia58 records

More places

Midway Atoll NWR – Sand IslandU.S. Outlying Islands33 records
Tahiti to Moorea ferryFrench Polynesia22 records
Midway Atoll – Spit IslandU.S. Outlying Islands20 records
Bora BoraFrench Polynesia17 records
Rangiroa – Blue LagoonFrench Polynesia16 records
Christmas IslandKiribati13 records
Midway Atoll – Cargo PierU.S. Outlying Islands11 records

Countries and regions with the most records

U.S. Outlying Islands French Polynesia Kiribati Tonga Northern Mariana Islands Pitcairn Islands Solomon Islands Samoa

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

Questions

How big is the Spectacled Tern?

The Spectacled Tern weighs around 120 g.

Where does the Spectacled Tern live?

Its breeding range: Pacific Ocean: southwestern to central tropical Pacific Ocean: northern Mariana, Phoenix, Line, Tuamotu, Marquesas, American Samoa, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, islets off Kauai and Oahu (main Hawaiian Islands) and Johnston Atoll (south of Hawaii). It is most often recorded in U.S. Outlying Islands, French Polynesia and Kiribati.

Is the Spectacled Tern endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Spectacled Tern as Least Concern.

What does the Spectacled Tern eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Spectacled Tern in?

It belongs to the family Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae), order Charadriiformes.

At a glance

Weight: 120 g
Habitat: Ocean
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: Feeds in the air
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 261 mm
Tail: 158 mm
Bill: 45 mm
Tarsus: 19 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Pacific Ocean: southwestern to central tropical Pacific Ocean: northern Mariana, Phoenix, Line, Tuamotu, Marquesas, American Samoa, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, islets off Kauai and Oahu (main Hawaiian Islands) and Johnston Atoll (south of Hawaii)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2