Barnacle tern
| Barnacle tern | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barnacle tern |
||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Sterna repressa | ||||||||||
| Hartert , 1916 |
The Weißwangenseeschwalbe is a species from the family of the terns (Sternidae).
It occurs on islands and on the coasts of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf as far as Pakistan and India , in the Horn of Africa and Kenya , where it is rarely found on land except at the mouth of the Sabaki River.
It winters on the coasts of Northeast Africa, the Arabian Sea to Southwest India and Lake Lakkadive .
description
The barnacle tern is 32 to 35 cm tall, weighs 78 to 142 g, the wingspan is 73 to 83 cm. It has darker plumage than all other typical terns and can be confused with the white-bearded tern in its splendid dress . In the brood plumage, the upper and lower sides are dark gray with a black crown and white ear covers, the back, wings and split tail are evenly dark gray. In the plain dress it looks very similar to the common tern with white forehead and underside, as a distinction more gray can be seen on the tail and underside of the wings.
voice
The male's call is described as a harsh, sharp “kyEEer” and a short “krree” similar to the common tern, but a little softer.
Way of life
The diet consists of small fish and invertebrates .
The breeding season is between May and June in Sudan and Oman , between July and September in Egypt , Somalia and Kenya . It breeds with other terns in colonies with nests on rocks, sand or gravel.
Hazardous situation
The barnacle tern is not considered to be endangered ( Least Concern ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Avibase
- ^ A b c T. Stevenson, J. Fanshawe: Birds of East Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Princeton University Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0-691-12665-4 .
- ↑ a b c d Handbook of the Birds of the World
- ^ IUCN Redlist
Web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of sterna repressa in the Internet Bird Collection
