White-cheeked Tern - BirdForum Opus

Sterna repressa

Photo by AJDH
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Jul 2006

Identification

Size: 35cm

Darker Grey upperparts than all other Sterna with grey upperparts. There is continuous dark trailing edge to entire underwing. In breeding birds long, slender red bill is with a dark tip. Dark grey underparts.

Distinguished from Common Tern, Arctic Tern & Roseate Tern in flight by grey rump and tail concolorous with back. In breeding birds the broad white cheek stripe contrasts more with dark grey underparts than these three.

Distribution

Africa, Middle East and Asia
Northern Africa: Egypt
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania,
Middle East: Israel, Jordan, Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Socotra, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran
Asia: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka

Juvenile
Photo by AJDH
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, July 2006

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Pelagic except when breeding.

Photo by AJDH
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, June 2006

Behaviour

Breeding

A nest of sticks is placed on the ground.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Avibase

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2023) White-cheeked Tern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 December 2023 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-cheeked_Tern

External Links

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