| IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): | Least Concern
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| Approximate size(adult): | Measures about 22–25 cm in length with a wingspan of 48–55 cm; slender tern with a yellow bill, white forehead, and grey upperparts.
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| Resident/ Migrate from: | Resident and partially migratory in South Asia, with breeding populations across India, Sri Lanka, and coastal Southeast Asia. Northern populations migrate south after breeding.
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| Migrate to: | Migratory populations winter along southern Asia, the Indian Ocean coasts, and parts of Africa and Australia.
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| Breeding season: | Breeds mainly from April to July in India. The nest is a shallow scrape on sand or gravel, usually on riverbanks, coastal beaches, or islands.
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| Breed in: | Found breeding on sandy or gravelly shores, islands, riverbanks, and coastal lagoons with sparse vegetation.
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| Habitat: | Occurs in coastal areas, estuaries, large rivers, and inland lakes with open sandy or muddy margins.
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| Diet: | Feeds mainly on small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects, caught by plunging into shallow waters.
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