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Photo by IanF
Shot on St. Mary's Is., Northumbria, U.K.

Sterna dougallii

[edit] Identification

33-36 cm.

Thin sharp black bill, with a red base which develops through the breeding season, and is more extensive in the tropical and southern hemisphere races. Upper wings are pale grey and under parts white. The adults have very long, flexible tail streamers and orange-red legs. In summer, the underparts of adults take on the pinkish tinge which gives this bird its name.

[edit] Distribution

Europe and North America.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Coasts and islands.

[edit] Behaviour

It nests in a ground scrape, often in a hollow or under dense vegetation, and lays 1 or 2 (rarely 3) eggs.

Its diet includes fish.

[edit] External Links