From Opus

Photo by GarethH
Struisbaai, Western Cape, South Africa, December 2007

Sternula balaenarum

Sterna balaenarum

[edit] Identification

23cm

• Pale grey back
• All black cap when breeding
• Downcurved bill
• White forehead and crown when not breeding

Photo by GarethH
Struisbaai, Western Cape, South Africa, December 2007

[edit] Distribution

Western Africa: Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, DRC and Angola
Southern Africa: Namibia and South Africa

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

This species was formerly placed in the genus Sterna

[edit] Habitat

Shallow seas, shorelines, and coastal saline lagoons.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It nests in dunes. The clutch consists of 1-2 eggs.

[edit] Vocalisation

A high pitched tsit-tit repeated several times, and tit-tit.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Avibase
3. Wikipedia
4. Krugerpark.co.za

• List of references

[edit] External Links