- Sterna nilotica
Gelochelidon nilotica
Identification
41cm
- Black bill
- Black cap
- Grey upperparts
- Black legs
Similar Species
The Sandwich Tern has a black bill with a yellow tip.
Distribution
Almost world-wide.
Annual passage migrant mostly to the south coast of the British Isles
Taxonomy
Six subspecies are recognized[1]:
- nilotica:
- Palearctic; winters tropical Africa and Persian Gulf to India
- addenda:
- macrotarsa:
- Australia (except arid areas)
- arenea:
- Eastern US to Greater Antilles and Yucatán; winters to Brazil and Peru
- groenvoldi:
- Coasts and rivers of French Guiana to north-eastern Argentina
- vanrossemi:
- California to northern Baja and north-western Mexico; winters to Ecuador
Several newer resourses have reassigned this species to genus Gelochelidon; if more follow the lead, Opus will as well.
Habitat
Prefers sandy seashore but also overwinters near inland waters (lagoons, marshes, lakes, rivers etc).
Behaviour
Diet
The diet consists mostly of insects, but also feeds on frogs and small mammals.
Breeding
Breeds colonially in a variety of habitats: lakes, fresh and saline marshes. Also mountain lakes to a height of around 2000m.
References
- Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Gull-billed Tern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Gull-billed_Tern
