Whiskered Tern

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iWhiskered Tern

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Sternidae
Genus:	Chlidonias
Species:	C. hybridus

Binomial name

Chlidonias hybridus
(Pallas, 1811)

Subspecies

C. h. hybridus
(Eurasian Whiskered Tern)
C. h. delalandii
(African Whiskered Tern)
C. h. javanicus
(Australasian Whiskered Tern)

The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in size and minor plumage details.

C. h. hybridus breeds in warmer parts of Europe and Asia. The smaller-billed and darker C. h. delalandii is found in east and south Africa, and the paler C. h. javanicus from Java to Australia.

The tropical forms are resident, but European and Asian birds winter south to Africa and southern Asia.

This species breeds in colonies on inland marshes, sometimes amongst Black-headed Gulls, which provide some protection ientific name arises from the fact that this, the largest marsh tern, show similarities in appearance to both the white Sterna terns and to Black Tern.

The size, black cap, strong bill and more positive flight recall Common or Arctic Tern, but the short tail and dark grey breeding plumage above and below are typically marsh tern characteristics. The summer adult has white cheeks and red legs and bill. The call is a characteristic krekk.

In winter, the forehead becomes white and the body plumage a much paler grey. Juvenile Whiskered Terns have a ginger scaly back, and otherwise look much like winter adults. The first winter plumage is intermediate between juvenile and adult winter, with patchy ginger on the back.