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Gull-billed Tern

From Opus

Photo of breeding plumaged bird by scottishdudeGoa, India, March 2009
Photo of breeding plumaged bird by scottishdude
Goa, India, March 2009
Sterna nilotica

Gelochelidon nilotica

Contents

[edit] Identification

41cm

  • Black bill
  • Black cap
  • Grey upperparts
  • Black legs

[edit] Similar Species

The Sandwich Tern has a black bill with a yellow tip.

Photo of winter plumaged bird by GasheadDubai creek, United Arab Emirates, November 2004
Photo of winter plumaged bird by Gashead
Dubai creek, United Arab Emirates, November 2004

[edit] Distribution

Almost world-wide.

Annual passage migrant mostly to the south coast of the British Isles

[edit] Taxonomy

Six subspecies are recognized[1]:

  • nilotica:
  • addenda:
  • Transbaikalia to Manchuria and eastern China; winters South-eastern Asia
  • macrotarsa:
JuvenilePhoto by AJDHAl Khobar, Saudi Arabia, July 2006
Juvenile
Photo by AJDH
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, July 2006
  • arenea:
  • groenvoldi:
  • vanrossemi:

Several newer resourses have reassigned this species to genus Gelochelidon; if more follow the lead, Opus will as well.

[edit] Habitat

Prefers sandy seashore but also overwinters near inland waters (lagoons, marshes, lakes, rivers etc).

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet consists mostly of insects, but also feeds on frogs and small mammals.

[edit] Breeding

Breeds colonially in a variety of habitats: lakes, fresh and saline marshes. Also mountain lakes to a height of around 2000m.

[edit] References

  1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
  2. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  4. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

[edit] External Links

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