Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
The Gull-billed Tern is a medium-sized, pale tern with a stout, black bill and long, slender wings. In Patagonia, it is a summer visitor, breeding in scattered colonies along lakes, marshes, and coastal lagoons. Its distinctive bill shape allows it to exploit a wide range of prey, from insects to small vertebrates, often foraging over fields and wetlands rather than just open water. This adaptability in feeding behavior makes it unique among terns. During the breeding season, adults display a black cap and white plumage, while outside of breeding, their head markings become less distinct. The Gull-billed Tern is known for its buoyant, graceful flight and sharp, barking calls. Though not abundant, it is a notable member of Patagonia’s diverse birdlife, contributing to the region’s rich wetland ecosystems.
Habitat
Breeds and forages in freshwater and coastal wetlands, lagoons, marshes, and sometimes agricultural fields across Patagonian lowlands.
Foraging
Feeds by flying over land or water, catching insects, small fish, amphibians, and even small mammals from the ground or surface.