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'''Juveniles''' have scaly grey plumage | '''Juveniles''' have scaly grey plumage | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | [[Bridled Tern]] differs in having upper back contrastingly paler than rear head. Notice that | + | [[Bridled Tern]] differs in having upper back contrastingly paler than rear head. Notice that Sooty Tern becomes more Bridled Tern-like in winter. |
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==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Tropical (and sometimes subtropical) oceans all around the globe. | Tropical (and sometimes subtropical) oceans all around the globe. | ||
Revision as of 15:15, 9 September 2014
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- Onychoprion fuscatus
Sterna fuscata
Identification
33-36 cm
- Dark grey upperparts
- White underparts
- Long, forked tail
- Long wings
- Black legs and bill
Juveniles have scaly grey plumage
Similar Species
Bridled Tern differs in having upper back contrastingly paler than rear head. Notice that Sooty Tern becomes more Bridled Tern-like in winter.
Distribution
Tropical (and sometimes subtropical) oceans all around the globe.
Taxonomy
Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, Gray-backed Tern and Aleutian Tern are each others closest relatives and all four are sometimes included in the genus Sterna.
Subspecies
Eight subspecies are recognized[1]:
- O. f. fuscatus:
- Gulf of Mexico, eastern Mexico and West Indies; Gulf of Guinea islands
- O. f. nubilosus:
- Southern Red Sea and Indian Ocean to Ryukyu Island and Philippines
- O. f. infuscatus:
- Central Indonesia
- O. f. serratus:
- O. f. kermadeci:
- Kermadec Islands
- O. f. oahuensis:
- Bonin Islands to Hawaii and South Pacific islands
- O. f. crissalis:
- Islands off western Mexico and Central America to Galapagos Islands
- O. f. luctuosus:
- Juan Fernández Islands (off Chile)
Habitat
Open sea, but they breed in colonies on rocky or coral islands. They are rarely seen on land, apart from when breeding.
Behaviour
Breeding
The nest is a ground scrape or hole. The clutch consists of 1-3 eggs.
Diet
It feeds by picking fish from the sea surface.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Sooty Tern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Sooty_Tern
External Links
