PAKHI DEKHOON PAKHI CHINOON #655. OBSERVE THE BIRD AND RECOGNIZE...CASPIAN TERN ... WATERCOLOUR...A4.... 2016..[From the photograph of Mr. ANAND PENDHARKAR]... The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia, formerly Sterna caspia) is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no subspecies accepted either. In New Zealandit is also known by the Maori name taranui.
It is the world's largest tern with a length of 4860 cm (1924 in), a wingspan of 127145 cm (5057 in) and a weight of 530782 g (18.727.6 oz). Adult birds have black legs, and a long thick red-orange bill with a small black tip. They have a white head with a black cap and white neck, belly and tail. The upper wings and back are pale grey; the underwings are pale with dark primary feathers. In flight, the tail is less forked than other terns and wing tips black on the underside. In winter, the black cap is still present (unlike many other terns), but with some white streaking on the forehead. The call is a loud heron-like croak.
They feed mainly on fish, which they dive for, hovering high over the water and then plunging. They also occasionally eat large insects, the young and eggs of other birds and rodents.
The chicks are variable in plumage pattern, from pale creamy to darker grey-brown; this variation assists adults in recognizing their own chicks when returning to the colony from feeding trips.[INFO:WIKIPEDIA]
