Caspian Tern

Photo by avesdigital
Tarifa, Spain

Hydroprogne caspia

Sterna caspia

Identification

48–56 cm. White head, neck, belly, tail, cap is black in breeding plumage, mottled with white in winter and in juvenile, pale grey back and upper wings, pale, dark tipped underwings, black legs, red-orange bill.

Photo by john-henry
Portugal, November 2008

Distribution

North America, West Indies and northern South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

There are records most years for the British Isles.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1], in spite of its cosmopolitan range (some authorities do recognize two subspecies: caspia and imperator).

This species was in the past (and is still by some authorities) included in the genus Sterna.

Habitat

Large lakes and ocean coasts. Breeds on sandy coasts and islands.

• 

  Mating Dance
  Photo by Robert Davis
  Bolivar Flats, May 2008
  Click on image to view larger version

• 

  Juvenile
  Photo by blubird
  Las Gallinas, California, July 2008
  Click on image to view larger version

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes fish, insects, eggs and young birds.

Breeding

They are ground nesters, colonially and singly; 1-3 pale blue green eggs, heavily spotted brown, are laid in a bare scrape.

Vocalisation

The call is a loud croak.

<flashmp3>Sterna caspia (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
4. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Caspian Tern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Caspian_Tern

External Links

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