Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia (Sterna caspia)

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
ABNNM08020
Common Name: 
Caspian Tern
Scientific Name: 
Hydroprogne caspia (Sterna caspia)
Synonyms: 
Sterna caspia
Naming References: 
ASC9
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Charadriiformes
Family: 
Laridae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

at least 3yr, few at 2 yr
References: 
CS37

Longevity

oldest known 26yr (4 records)
References: 
CS37
Habitat
sandy or rocky islands well off shore with little vegetation cover
References: 
R041
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

21/164 (18%), disjunct from other populations further south, northern most breeding area (B004); Known to breed only on Great Slave Lake in the NWT (MAF4). Range extent estimated from map provided in CWS, 2009 (Canadian Wildlife Service - Prairie and Northern Region, 2009. Bird Distributions in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories: 2009 Review).
Score: 
F
References: 
B004
MAF4
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern US

Number of Occurrences

>40 nest sites on Great Slave lake, but <6 of these are medium to large colonies (R041); Nests on offshore islands of Great Slave Lake either as single pairs, or in colonies containing upwards of 110 pairs. Approximately 80% of breeding sites contain only a single pair, with bulk of individuals occuring at a few large colony sites containing many pairs (MAF4).
Score: 
C
References: 
MAF4
R041

Area of Occupancy

unknown, likely stable
Score: 
-
References: 
R041
Population

Population Size

500 pairs (R041); ~500 individuals nesting on Great Slave Lake (R257)
Score: 
CD
References: 
R041
R257

Density

colonial or solitary
Trends

Trends

unknown
References: 
R041
Threats

Threats

water level fluctuations, human disturbances, contaminants (B004; R041); Sensitive to disturbance due to localized distribution (H305)
Score: 
B
References: 
B004
R041
H305

Intrinsic Vulnerability

interspecific competition (gulls, cormorants)
Score: 
-
References: 
B004
R041
H305
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Sensitive
Status Rank Description: 
Considered sensitive due to small numbers and highly localized distribution. Majority of individuals occur at only a handful of colony sites on offshore islands within Great Slave Lake.
S Rank: 
S3
Decision Process Description: 
Reviewed in 2005 by C. Swoboda, based on printed material: no change in status.; Reviewed in 2010;no change; ; Reviewed by Paul F. Woodard CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 4, 2015
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Not At Risk
References: 
R041

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Cuthbert, F. J., and L. R. Wires (1999) Caspian Tern, Birds of North America. No. 403, The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. - CS37 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • James RD (1998) Update status report on caspian tern Sterna caspia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R041 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • James RD (1998) Update status report on caspian tern Sterna caspia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R041 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • James RD (1998) Update status report on caspian tern Sterna caspia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R041 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • James RD (1998) Update status report on caspian tern Sterna caspia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R041 Return
  • Danica Hogan and Paul F. Woodard (2015) ecopy - H305 Return

Longevity

  • Cuthbert, F. J., and L. R. Wires (1999) Caspian Tern, Birds of North America. No. 403, The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. - CS37 Return

Naming

  • AOU (2006) Forty-seventh Supplement to the American ornithologist' Union Check-list of North American birds. Auk 123:926-936 - ASC9 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Sirois, J., M.A. Fournier, and M. Kay (1995) The colonial waterbirds of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories: an annotated atlas. Canadian Wildlife Service Occasional Paper No. 89 - MAF4 Return
  • James RD (1998) Update status report on caspian tern Sterna caspia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R041 Return

Population Size

James RD (1998) Update status report on caspian tern Sterna caspia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R041 Return
,
Woodard, P.F., M.A. Fournier, and M.O. Wiebe Robertson. (2013) Technical Report Series No. 526, Canadian Wildlife Service, Yellowknife, NT.). http://ec.gc.ca/nature/8A501AF4-58FB-4EDD-85BC-6A8221031199/North_Arm_Larid_Report_E_v3_web.pdf - R257 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Sirois, J., M.A. Fournier, and M. Kay (1995) The colonial waterbirds of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories: an annotated atlas. Canadian Wildlife Service Occasional Paper No. 89 - MAF4 Return

Short Term Trends

  • James RD (1998) Update status report on caspian tern Sterna caspia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R041 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • James RD (1998) Update status report on caspian tern Sterna caspia in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R041 Return
  • Danica Hogan and Paul F. Woodard (2015) ecopy - H305 Return