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Australian Tern

Gelochelidon macrotarsa (Gould, J 1837)

The Australian tern or Australian gull-billed tern is a tern in the family Laridae. The genus name is from Ancient Greek gelao, "to laugh", and khelidon, "swallow". It was previously considered conspecific with the gull-billed tern. Source: Wikipedia




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Classification
Order:
  Charadriiformes
Family:
  Laridae
Genus:
   Gelochelidon
Scientific:
  Gelochelidon macrotarsa


Original description

Citation:
  (Gould, J 1837)

Reference:
   Synopsis Birds Austral. Adj. Isl. pt2 pl.[37] fig.2

Protonym:
  Sterna macrotarsa

Type locality:
  Tasmania.

Link:
  https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/182460#page/157/mode/1up


Avibase identifiers

Avibase ID:
  C5F70BBE9BBF033A

Avibase ID:
  avibase-C5F70BBE

Short link:
  https://avibase.ca/C5F70BBE


Taxonomic Serial Number:
  TSN: 824715

English:
Australian Tern
Afrikaans:
Australiese Sterretjie
Azerbaijani:
Avstraliya qağayıburun susüpürəni
Bulgarian:
Австралийска рибарка
Catalan:
curroc australià
Czech:
rybák dlouhonohý
Danish:
Australsk Sandterne
German:
Australien-Lachseeschwalbe
Greek:
Αυστραλιανό Γελογλάρονο
Esperanto:
aŭstralia ŝterno
Spanish:
Pagaza australiana
Spanish (Spain):
Pagaza australiana
Estonian:
austraalia naerutiir
French:
Sterne à longues pattes
Croatian:
australska čigra
Indonesian:
Dara-laut australia
Japanese:
オーストラリアハシブトアジサシ
Dutch:
Australische Lachstern
Norwegian:
sumpsandterne
Polish:
rybitwa czarnodzioba
Portuguese:
tagaz-australiano
Portuguese (Portugal):
tagaz-australiano
Slovak:
rybárka austrálska
Slovenian:
Avstralska čigra
Serbian:
Australijska debelokljuna čigra
Swedish:
australisk sandtärna
Thai:
นกนางนวลแกลบออสเตรเลีย
Turkish:
Avustralya Gülen Sumrusu
Ukrainian:
крячок великоногий
Chinese:
澳洲鸥嘴噪鸥


Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:

Avibase taxonomic concepts (current):
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023):
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024):
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2025 (Nov 2025):
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013):
Gull-billed Tern (macrotarsa) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014):
Gull-billed Tern (macrotarsa) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015):
Gull-billed Tern (macrotarsa) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016):
Gull-billed Tern (macrotarsa) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017):
Gull-billed Tern (macrotarsa) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018):
Gull-billed Tern (macrotarsa) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa)
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020):
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021):
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Avilist 2025:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 08 (Oct 2015):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v9 (Oct 2024):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v10 (Oct 2025):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa)
Clements, version 2021:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements, version 2022:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements, version 2023:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Clements, version 2024:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Clements, version 2025:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (as published):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements, version 2015:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements, version 2016:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements, version 2017:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements, version 2018:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Clements, version 2019:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
eBird version 2015:
Gull-billed Tern (Australian) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2016:
Gull-billed Tern (Australian) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2017:
Gull-billed Tern (Australian) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2018:
Gull-billed Tern (Australian) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2019:
Gull-billed Tern (Australian) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2021:
Gull-billed Tern (Australian) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2022:
Gull-billed Tern (Australian) ( Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2023:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2024:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
eBird version 2025:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 2nd edition:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8):
Sterna nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018):
Australian Gull-billed Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 15.1:
Australian Tern ( Gelochelidon macrotarsa) [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition):
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa [version 1]

Taxonomic status:

Species status: full species (sometimes a subspecies)

This taxon is considered a subspecies of Gelochelidon [nilotica or macrotarsa] (sensu lato) by some authors

Your sightings

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Related taxa

Highlight taxa in a checklist (shown in red)

Other synonyms

See also the taxonomic synonyms table.


Afrikaans: Oostelike Sterretjie (Australiese)
Arabic: خرشنة نيلية (macrotarsa)
Asturian: Garrochín picucurtiu (macrotarsa)
Azerbaijani: Qağayıburun susüpürən (macrotarsa yarımnövü)
Bulgarian: Дебелоклюна рибарка (ssp. macrotarsa)
Catalan: Curroc australià, Curroc comú (macrotarsa)
Czech: rybák černozobý (ssp. macrotarsa), rybák dlouhonohý
Danish: Australsk Sandterne, Sandterne, Australsk (ssp. macrotarsa)
German: Australien-Lachseeschwalbe, Australische Lachseeschwalbe, Lachseeschwalbe (macrotarsa)
Greek: Γελογλάρονο (macrotarsa)
English: Australian Gull-billed Tern, Australian Tern, Gull-billed Tern (Australian), Gull-billed Tern (macrotarsa)
English, HBW: Australian Gull-billed Tern
English (IOC): Australian Tern, Gull-billed Tern (Australian)
English (United States): Gull-billed Tern (Australian)
Esperanto: aŭstralia ŝterno
Spanish: Charrán Pico Grueso (macrotarsa), Pagaza australiana, Pagaza Piconegra (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Argentine): Gaviotín Pico Grueso (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Chile): Gaviotín de pico negro (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Costa Rica): Charrán Piquinegro (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Cuba): Gaviotica de pico corto (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Ecuador): Gaviotín Piquigrueso (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Spain): Pagaza Piconegra (macrotarsa)
Spanish (HBW): Gull-billed Tern (Australian)
Spanish (Mexico): Charrán Pico Grueso (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Panama): Gaviotín Piquigrueso (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Peru): Gaviotín de Pico Negro (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Paraguay): Gaviotín pico grueso (macrotarsa)
Spanish (Uruguay): Gaviotín Pico Grueso (Subesp. macrotarsa)
Estonian: austraalia naerutiir
Basque: Txenada mokobeltza (macrotarsa)
Persian: پرستو دریایی نوک‌ کاکایی (macrotarsa)
Finnish: hietatiira (macrotarsa)
French: Sterne à longues pattes, Sterne hansel (Australie), Sterne hansel (macrotarsa)
Galician: Carrán de bico curto (macrotarsa)
Hebrew: שחפית עבת-מקור (אוסטרלית)
Croatian: australska čigra
Armenian: Որորակտուց ջրածիծառ (macrotarsa)
Icelandic: Sandþerna (macotarsa)
Japanese (romaji): hashibutoajisashi (macrotarsa)
Japanese: ハシブトアジサシ (macrotarsa), ハシブトアジサシ(macrotarsa)
Scientific: Gelochelidon macrotarsa, Gelochelidon nilotica cloatesi, Gelochelidon nilotica macrotarsa, Gelochelidon nilotica normani, Geochelidon nilotica macrotarsa, Sterna angelica macrotarsa, Sterna macrotarsa, Sterna nilotica macrotarsa
Lithuanian: Kirasnapė žuvėdra (macrotarsa)
Dutch: Australische Lachstern, Lachstern (macrotarsa)
Norwegian: sandterne (macrotarsa), sumpsandterne
Polish: rybitwa czarnodzioba, rybitwa krótkodzioba (macrotarsa)
Portuguese: tagaz-australiano
Portuguese (Brazil): trinta-réis-de-bico-preto (macrotarsa)
Portuguese (Portugal): tagaz (macrotarsa), tagaz-australiano
Russian: Чайконосая крачка (macrotarsa)
Slovak: rybárka austrálska, rybárka austrálska (skup.)
Slovenian: Črnonoga čigra (macrotarsa)
Serbian: Debelokljuna čigra (macrotarsa)
Swedish: australisk sandtärna, sandtärna (macrotarsa)
Thai: นกนางนวลแกลบปากหนา (ออสเตรเลีย)
Turkish: Gülen Sumru (macrotarsa)
Ukrainian: крячок великоногий
Chinese: 澳洲鸥嘴噪鸥, 鸥嘴噪鸥(澳洲)

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