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Difference between revisions of "Lesser Crested Tern" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Lesser Crested Tern, Bahrain.jpg|thumb|500px|right|''T. b. bengalensis''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Howard+King|Howard King}}<br />Busaiteen, Maharraq, [[Bahrain]], July 2009]]
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;Sterna bengalensis
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;[[:Category:Thalasseus|Thalasseus]] bengalensis
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[[Image:Lesser_Crested_Tern.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Tom Tarrant]]
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''Sterna bengalensis''
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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This is a medium-large tern, very similar in size and general appearance to its three very close relatives Sandwich Tern, Elegant Tern and Chinese Crested Tern. The summer adult has a black cap, black legs and a long sharp orange bill. The upperwings, rump and central tail feathers are grey and the underparts white. The primary flight feathers darken during the summer. In winter, the forehead becomes white. The call is a loud grating noise like Sandwich Tern.
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Length 35-43 cm (13¾-17 in), wingspan 88-105 cm, weight 185-242 g <br />
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*Black cap (with mottled white forehead in winter)
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The grey rump is a useful flight identification feature distinguishing it from the related species. The Elegant Tern also differs in a slightly longer, slenderer bill, while Chinese Crested Tern differs in a black tip to the bill and Sandwich Tern a black bill with a yellow tip.
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*Upperparts uniform grey, including rump and upper tail
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*Underparts white
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Juvenile Lesser Crested Terns resemble same-age Sandwich Terns, but with a yellow-orange bill, and paler overall, with only faint dark crescents on the mantle feathers.
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*Black legs
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*Long sharp orange bill, may have light yellow tip
  
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====Similar Species====
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[[Image:D3A 1900 800.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''T. b. bengalensis'' in flight<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|AJDH|AJDH}}<br />Jarim Islands, [[Bahrain]], June 2009]]
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[[Sandwich Tern]]: black bill with yellow tip<br />
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[[Elegant Tern]]: bill longer and slightly downcurved; mantle slightly paler; rump white<br />
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[[Chinese Crested Tern]]: bill yellower, with black tip<br />
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[[Royal Tern]]: Larger. Plumage is paler overall and rump and upper-tail white. Bill thicker than Lesser Crested, with dagger shape. Lesser Crested's bill is thinner and rapier-shaped.<br />
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[[Great Crested Tern]]: Larger. Plumage darker above; forehead always white, even in the courtship and breeding seasons. Bill yellow to greenish-yellow, and thicker, with dagger shape. [http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=94728 Picture] of Lesser Crested and [[Great Crested Tern]] together.
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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It breeds in subtropical coastal parts of the world mainly from the Red Sea across the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, and Australia, with a significant population on the southern coast of the Mediterranean on islands off the Libyan coast. The Australian birds are probably sedentary, but other populations are migratory, wintering south to South Africa.
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Northern and eastern [[Africa]], the [[Middle East]], southern [[Asia]], and [[Australasia]]; a rare visitor (has bred) in western and southern [[Europe]]. <br />
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'''Europe''': records from [[Britain]], [[France]], [[Portugal]], [[Spain]], [[Gibraltar]], [[Italy]], and [[Greece]]<br />
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'''Northern Africa''': breeds [[Libya]]; on passage off [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]], [[Tunisia]]<br />
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'''Western Africa''': passage and winter visitor to [[Mauritania]], [[The Gambia]], [[Guinea]]<br />
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'''Eastern Africa''': breeds [[Egypt]] (Red Sea coast), [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Djibouti]] [[Somalia]]; passage and winter on coasts of [[Kenya]], [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Mozambique]]<br />
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'''Southern Africa''': winters [[South Africa]] ([[KwaZulu-Natal]])<br />
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'''African Islands''': winters [[Madagascar]], [[Comoros]], [[Seychelles]], [[Mauritius Island]]<br />
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'''Middle East''': breeds [[Arabian Peninsula]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Yemen]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Qatar]], [[Bahrain]], [[Iran]]; on passage off [[Kuwait]], [[Iraq]], [[Oman]], [[Socotra]]; vagrant to [[Turkey]], [[Lebanon]], [[Israel]]<br />
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'''South Asia''': breeds [[Pakistan]], [[India]] (Laccadive Islands), [[Maldives]]; on passage and wintering [[India]], [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Bangladesh]]<br />
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'''Southeast Asia''': breeds [[Sulawesi]], [[Lesser Sundas]], [[Bali]], [[Timor]], [[Moluccas]]; wintering [[Indochina]], [[Myanmar]], [[Cambodia]], [[Thailand]], [[Malaysia]], [[Malay Peninsula]], [[Brunei]], [[Singapore]], [[Borneo]], [[Indonesia]], [[Greater Sundas]], [[Sumatra]], [[Java]]<br />
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'''Australasia''': breeds [[New Guinea]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Australia]] ([[Northern Territory]], [[Queensland]], [[Western Australia]]); on passage in [[Melanesia]]
  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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The Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis, syn. Sterna bengalensis - see Bridge et al., 2005) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae.
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[[Image:Lesser Crested Tern, Wellington Point QLD.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''T. b. torresii'', non-breeding plumage<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Ken+Doy|Ken Doy}}<br />Wellington Point, [[Queensland]], [[Australia]], September 2016]]
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This bird has a number of geographical subspecies, differing mainly in size and minor plumage details:
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Like the other ''Thalasseus'' terns, this species is was formerly often placed in the genus ''[[:Category:Sterna|Sterna]]''. Hybrids with [[Sandwich Tern]] have been recorded on several occasions.
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====Subspecies====
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Three subspecies are recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, differing mainly in the tone of grey on the mantle and wings, and slightly in size.
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*''T. b. emigratus'':
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:*[[Libya]]; winters off western [[Africa]]n coast; has also bred in [[Spain]] ([[Ebro Delta]]) and [[Italy]] ([[Valli di Comacchio and surrounding area|Valli di Comacchio]] and [[Venice Lagoon (Laguna di Venezia)|Venice Lagoon]]), and hybridised with Sandwich Tern in the [[Evros Delta]], [[Greece]] and on the [[Farne Islands]], [[England]].
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::*Palest and largest subspecies, mantle light grey, barely any darker than Sandwich Tern or Elegant Tern.
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*''T. b. bengalensis'':
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:*Eastern Africa and southern Asia from the Red Sea, [[Pakistan]], Laccadives and [[Maldives]]; winters south to [[South Africa]] and east to southeast Asia.
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::*Medium grey.
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*''T. b. torresii'':
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:*[[Sulawesi]] to [[New Guinea]] and northern & eastern [[Australia]]; disperses northwest to southeast Asia in the southern winter.
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::*Darkest grey, nearly as dark as Great Crested Tern.
  
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T. b. emigrata: breeding in the Mediterranean on islands off the coast of Libya, wintering West Africa. Pale grey above (only marginally darker than Sandwich Tern); slightly larger.
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Birds from the Persian Gulf are of disputed placement, having been cited variously as either ''T. b. emigratus'' (<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>) or ''T. b. torresii'' (<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>), despite their being enclosed within the range of ''T. b. bengalensis''.
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T. b. bengalensis: northern Indian Ocean, wintering to South Africa. Medium-dark grey above; slightly smaller.
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[[Image:34247952741 5650ef48d5 c.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''T. b. bengalensis'', non-breeding adult in flight<br />Photo &copy; by SeeToh<br />Straits of Singapore, April 2017]]
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T. b. torresii: Indonesia south to Queensland, Australia, wintering in the same area (birds breeding in the Persian Gulf are also often given as this race). Dark grey above; slightly larger.
 
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The Mediterranean race is a rare vagrant to Europe, and has bred in pure or mixed pairs (with Sandwich Tern) in Italy, Spain and England.
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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This species breeds in dense colonies on coasts and islands.
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Breeds on coasts and islands.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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It nests in a ground scrape and lays one to two (rarely three) eggs. Nesting behaviour is very similar to that of Sandwich Terns, with predator avoidance by nesting in very dense colonies, and also (in race emigrata at least) by nesting in the late summer when predatory Yellow-legged Gulls have finished breeding and departed from the nesting area.
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====Breeding====
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Colonial. It nests in a ground scrape and lays 1-2 eggs.  
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Like all Thalasseus terns, Lesser Crested Tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, usually from saline environments. It usually dives directly, and not from the "stepped-hover" favoured by Arctic Tern. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.
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====Diet====
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Diet includes fish shrimp (prawn) and small crustaceans.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker16V6.3}}#{{Ref-HBWVol3}}#Scarton, F. et al. (2000). New breeding site of Lesser Crested Tern in Italy. ''Brit. Birds'' 93 (9):448-451.
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#Avibase
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#Wikipedia
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#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
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#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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*[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=41&bid=535 View more images of this species on the ABID]
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Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
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{{GSearch|Tern+bengalensis}}
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Search the Gallery using the common name:
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{{GSearch|"Lesser Crested Tern"}}
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{{GS-checked}}
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<br />
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<br />
  
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[[Category:Birds]]
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Thalasseus]]

Latest revision as of 18:33, 15 October 2022

T. b. bengalensis
Photo © by Howard King
Busaiteen, Maharraq, Bahrain, July 2009
Thalasseus bengalensis

Sterna bengalensis

Identification

Length 35-43 cm (13¾-17 in), wingspan 88-105 cm, weight 185-242 g

  • Black cap (with mottled white forehead in winter)
  • Upperparts uniform grey, including rump and upper tail
  • Underparts white
  • Black legs
  • Long sharp orange bill, may have light yellow tip

Similar Species

T. b. bengalensis in flight
Photo © by AJDH
Jarim Islands, Bahrain, June 2009

Sandwich Tern: black bill with yellow tip
Elegant Tern: bill longer and slightly downcurved; mantle slightly paler; rump white
Chinese Crested Tern: bill yellower, with black tip
Royal Tern: Larger. Plumage is paler overall and rump and upper-tail white. Bill thicker than Lesser Crested, with dagger shape. Lesser Crested's bill is thinner and rapier-shaped.
Great Crested Tern: Larger. Plumage darker above; forehead always white, even in the courtship and breeding seasons. Bill yellow to greenish-yellow, and thicker, with dagger shape. Picture of Lesser Crested and Great Crested Tern together.

Distribution

Northern and eastern Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia, and Australasia; a rare visitor (has bred) in western and southern Europe.
Europe: records from Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Italy, and Greece
Northern Africa: breeds Libya; on passage off Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia
Western Africa: passage and winter visitor to Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea
Eastern Africa: breeds Egypt (Red Sea coast), Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti Somalia; passage and winter on coasts of Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Mozambique
Southern Africa: winters South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal)
African Islands: winters Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius Island
Middle East: breeds Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Iran; on passage off Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Socotra; vagrant to Turkey, Lebanon, Israel
South Asia: breeds Pakistan, India (Laccadive Islands), Maldives; on passage and wintering India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
Southeast Asia: breeds Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas, Bali, Timor, Moluccas; wintering Indochina, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Malay Peninsula, Brunei, Singapore, Borneo, Indonesia, Greater Sundas, Sumatra, Java
Australasia: breeds New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia); on passage in Melanesia

Taxonomy

T. b. torresii, non-breeding plumage
Photo © by Ken Doy
Wellington Point, Queensland, Australia, September 2016

Like the other Thalasseus terns, this species is was formerly often placed in the genus Sterna. Hybrids with Sandwich Tern have been recorded on several occasions.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognised[1], differing mainly in the tone of grey on the mantle and wings, and slightly in size.

  • T. b. emigratus:
  • Palest and largest subspecies, mantle light grey, barely any darker than Sandwich Tern or Elegant Tern.
  • T. b. bengalensis:
  • Eastern Africa and southern Asia from the Red Sea, Pakistan, Laccadives and Maldives; winters south to South Africa and east to southeast Asia.
  • Medium grey.
  • T. b. torresii:
  • Darkest grey, nearly as dark as Great Crested Tern.

Birds from the Persian Gulf are of disputed placement, having been cited variously as either T. b. emigratus ([2]) or T. b. torresii ([3]), despite their being enclosed within the range of T. b. bengalensis.

T. b. bengalensis, non-breeding adult in flight
Photo © by SeeToh
Straits of Singapore, April 2017

Habitat

Breeds on coasts and islands.

Behaviour

Breeding

Colonial. It nests in a ground scrape and lays 1-2 eggs.

Diet

Diet includes fish shrimp (prawn) and small crustaceans.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2016. IOC World Bird Names (version 6.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  3. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334207
  4. Scarton, F. et al. (2000). New breeding site of Lesser Crested Tern in Italy. Brit. Birds 93 (9):448-451.
  5. Avibase
  6. Wikipedia
  7. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  8. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

Recommended Citation

External Links

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Search the Gallery using the common name:

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