White-headed tern
| White-headed tern | ||||||||||
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White-headed tern, feeding a cub |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Sterna trudeaui | ||||||||||
| Audubon , 1838 |
The Weißscheitelseeschwalbe is a species from the family of the terns (Sternidae).
It occurs along the Atlantic coast from Brazil ( Rio de Janeiro ) and Uruguay south to Argentina (south of Buenos Aires ) and in Chile (from Aconcagua to Llanquihue Islands ) along the Pacific coast , rarely also in Peru and as a stray on the Falkland Islands .
Their distribution area includes swamps , shallow lakes , mud flats , and generally wetlands made up of fresh or salt water . It breeds on the overgrown lagoons of the pampas .
The Latin name refers to Dr James de Berty Trudeau (1817-1887).
description
The white-headed tern is around 35 cm tall, weighs between 146 and 160 g, and has a wingspan of 76 to 78 cm. It is a relatively large bird with a massive head and thick neck, it is predominantly white with a pale gray upper side, there is a black spot in front of the eye and a dark band behind the eye. In the plain dress the beak is black with a yellow tip, in the breeding dress it is orange with a black outer stripe. It has long, pearly white wings and orange legs. The plain dress resembles the sandwich tern , but is paler and has a white head.
voice
The male's call is described as a series of quick "je-je-je-je" tones or a short, raspy "jeeer".
Way of life
The food consists of small fish (preferably New World earfish ) and insects .
The breeding season is believed to be between October and December.
Hazardous situation
The white-headed tern is not considered endangered ( least concern ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Avibase
- ↑ a b c d Handbook of the Birds of the World
- ↑ a b Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- ↑ a b PeruAves
- ^ IUCN Redlist
Web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of sterna trudeaui in the Internet Bird Collection