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Elegant Tern
jmorlan

Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)

Northern California numbers vary from year to year. Prior to the 1950's this species was very rare in Northern California, but it is now regular north to Oregon sometimes even reaching Washington State and British Columbia in invasion years. Surges are usually correlated with warm-water El Nino events. These large terns breed mostly in the Sea of Cortez, particularly Isla Rasa, and at a few colonies in Southern California. After nesting they disperse along the coast. Controversial records of this species breeding in Western Europe have recently been confirmed by genetic testing. This species was formerly included in the genus "Sterna" and thought to be closely related to the Royal Tern (T.maximus). However recent molecular research places it as sister to the Sandwich Tern (T. sandvicensis).
Location
Half Moon Bay Harbor, San Mateo County, California, USA
Date taken
6 September 2018
Scientific name
Thalasseus elegans
Equipment used
Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
Goodness, is there room for another one to get in there Joe LOL

What a great picture you've taken of this group. Very well done lad.
 

Media information

Category
North America
Added by
jmorlan
Date added
View count
27
Comment count
3

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