Home > Whiskered Tern

The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a number of geographical races, differing mainly in size and minor plumage details.

C. h. hybridus breeds in warmer parts of Europe and Asia. The smaller-billed and darker C. h. delalandii is found in east and south Africa, and the paler C. h. javanicus from Java to Australia.

The tropical forms are resident, but European and Asian birds winterLong-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern he south to Africa and southern Asia.

This species breeds in colonies on inland marshes, sometimes amongst Black-headed GullBlack-headed Gull : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Charadriiformes : Laridae Larus ridibundus Binomial name Larus ridibundus Linnaeus, 1766 The Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus , is a small gull which breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastals, which provide some protection from predators. It nests in a ground scrape and lays two to four eggs.

As with other the other Chlidonias marsh terns, Black TernBlack Tern Scientific Classification : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Charadriiformes : Sternidae : Chlidonias : niger Binomial name ''Chlidonias niger Linnaeus, 1758) The Black Tern Chlidonias niger is a small tern. Adult birds have short dark legs and a s and White-winged Black Tern, Whiskered Tern feeds on insects taken in flight, and not by plunge-diving for fishAtlantic herring, Clupea harengus one of the most abundant species in the world Photo A fish is a poikilothermic (cold-blooded) water-dwelling vertebrate with gills. There are over 27,000 species of fish, making them the most diverse group of vertebrates. like the white Sterna terns.

The hybridus in the scientific name arises from the fact that this, the largest marsh tern, show similarities in appearance to both the white Sterna terns and to Black Tern.

The size, black cap, strong bill and more positive flight recall CommonCommon Tern : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Charadriiformes : Sternidae Sterna hirundo Binomial name ''Sterna hirundo Linnaeus, 1758 The Common Tern Sterna hirundo is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution breeding or Arctic TernThe Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution breeding abundantly in arctic and sub-arctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America as far south as Brittany and Massachusetts. It is, but the short tail and dark grey breeding plumage above and below are typically marsh tern characteristics. The summer adult has white cheeks and red legs and bill. The call is a characteristic krekk.

In winter, the forehead becomes white and the body plumage a much paler grey. Juvenile Whiskered Terns have a ginger scaly back, and otherwise look much like winter adults.