Population: Common. The exact number of river terns in Kazakhstan is unknown. The global population of the river tern is estimated at between 1.6 million and 3.6 million individuals (Wetlands International, 2015).
Status: Non-endangered and non-game species but with ecological and cultural significance.
Habitat: In Kazakhstan, it breeds and is observed in flight almost everywhere,excluding arid desert areas. It lives near rivers and lakes with sandy, pebbleor salt marsh shores with sparse vegetation and less often on lakes with reed beds.