Whiskered Tern

1. Bird Name: The subjected bird for this profile is the Whiskered Tern. The scientific name for the Whiskered Tern is Chlidonias hybrida.

2. Appearance: The Whiskered Tern exhibits a sharp contrast in coloration between summer and winter. In summer, adults sport a glossy black head and underparts with a white vent and tail. The upperparts are gray, and there’s a distinguished white streak running along the wings. The beak is red, and the legs are a dark red hue. The winter plumage is more subdued, presenting gray upperparts and white underparts with a gray-and-white head. In both seasons, the Whiskered Tern has notable white eyebrows. There’s minimal difference in appearance between both genders, except in size where the females are slightly smaller.

3. Size: The Whiskered Tern’s length ranges approximately from 24 to 27 cm (9.4 to 10.6 inches). The bird showcases an impressive wingspan of about 70 to 80 cm (27.5 to 31.5 inches) and usually weighs between 60 and 110 grams (2.1 to 3.8 oz).

4. Habitat & Distribution: The Whiskered Tern is a cosmopolitan species found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. They typically inhabit wetland environments such as marshes, lagoons, lakes, river deltas, and flooded fields, making them highly dependent on water bodies for their survival.

5. Interesting Facts: Whiskered Terns display impressive migratory habits as they travel long distances between continents. They nest in colonies on floating vegetation—they lay 2-3 eggs in nests made of aquatic plants, making them truly at home in wetlands. Cultural reference includes the bird being prevalent in European folklore and tales.

6. Diet: The primary diet of the Whiskered Tern includes small fish, amphibians, insects, crustaceans and occasionally small mammals and bird chicks. They’re opportunistic feeders and can also prey on insects in the air.

7. Behavior & Sounds: Whiskered Terns display aerial acrobatics while preying. During courtship, the male presents a fish to the female while in flight. Their call is a distinct, loud, harsh, and rasping “kerr” sound.

8. Conservation Status: According to the IUCN Red List, the Whiskered Tern is categorized as Least Concern due to its extensive range and stable population trend.

9. Lifespan: The average lifespan for a Whiskered Tern in the wild can span up to ten years and can live longer in captivity with proper care.

10. Additional Notes: In Spanish, the Whiskered Tern is known as “Fumarel Cariblanco”, and in French, it is called “Guifette moustac”. This bird plays a crucial role in controlling the population of certain pest species in the ecosystems where they reside. As a part of human-bird interaction, in certain regions, the bird’s eggs are collected for human consumption, creating a conflict between the species and local communities. Successful conservation efforts would require striking a balance between human needs and the bird’s survival.