South American Tern
South American TernSouth American TernSouth American TernSouth American Tern

South American Tern

Sterna hirundinacea

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Tierra del Fuego National Park
267 Verified records at Tierra del Fuego National Park
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The South American tern (Sterna hirundinacea) is a species of tern found in coastal regions of southern South America, including the Falkland Islands, ranging north to Peru (Pacific coast) and Brazil (Atlantic coast). It is generally the most common tern in its range. The smaller, highly migratory common tern closely resembles it. The specific epithet refers to the "swallow-like" forked tail feathering. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a South American Tern sighting in Tierra del Fuego National Park, based on 267 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Tierra del Fuego National Park

Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Dolphin Gull

Dolphin Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucophaeus scoresbii

20–30% · Possible
Brown-hooded Gull

Brown-hooded Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus maculipennis

5–10% · With luck
Franklin's Gull
LC

Franklin's Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leucophaeus pipixcan

<5% · Rare
Southern Lapwing
LC

Southern Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus chilensis

30–40% · Possible
Magellanic Oystercatcher
LC

Magellanic Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus leucopodus

20–30% · Possible
Blackish Oystercatcher
LC

Blackish Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus ater

10–20% · With luck
Chilean Skua

Chilean Skua

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stercorarius chilensis

10–20% · With luck
Brown Skua

Brown Skua

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Stercorarius antarcticus

Insufficient data
Magellanic Snipe
LC

Magellanic Snipe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinago magellanica

5–10% · With luck
White-rumped Sandpiper
VU

White-rumped Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris fuscicollis

5–10% · With luck
Greater Yellowlegs
NT

Greater Yellowlegs

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa melanoleuca

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
50–60
Feb
40–50
Mar
20–30
Apr
10–20
May
20–30
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
5–10
Oct
10–20
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Península Valdés 🇦🇷 Argentina
40–50%
2 Tierra del Fuego National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
20–30%
3 Torres del Paine National Park 🇨🇱 Chile
5–10%
4 Paracas National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
5 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
6 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a South American Tern in Tierra del Fuego National Park?

About 26% of wildlife watchers report a South American Tern sighting in Tierra del Fuego National Park, based on 267 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see South American Tern in Tierra del Fuego National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for South American Tern in Tierra del Fuego National Park in our monthly data.

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