(added distribution and taxonomy info from Avibase) |
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| − | ;Sterna maxima | + | [[Category:Sterna]] |
| + | ;[[:Category:Sterna|Sterna]] maxima | ||
[[Image:Royal_Tern.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by richard bledsoe <br/ >shot near La Jolla, California]] | [[Image:Royal_Tern.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by richard bledsoe <br/ >shot near La Jolla, California]] | ||
| − | + | ''Thalasseus maximus'' | |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
46-53cm. It has a long yellow bill, pale grey upperparts and white underparts. Its legs are black. In winter, the black cap becomes patchy. | 46-53cm. It has a long yellow bill, pale grey upperparts and white underparts. Its legs are black. In winter, the black cap becomes patchy. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[North America]], [[Central America]], [[South America]], western [[Europe]] and [[Africa]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | Some authorities place the Royal Tern in the genus ''Thalasseus''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There are two subspecies, ''maximus'' and ''albididorsalis''. | ||
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Coasts and islands. | Coasts and islands. | ||
| Line 14: | Line 19: | ||
It nests in a ground scrape and lays 1-2 eggs. | It nests in a ground scrape and lays 1-2 eggs. | ||
| − | It feeds by plunge-diving for fish | + | It feeds by plunge-diving for fish. |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | + | {{GSearch|Sterna+maxima}} | |
| − | [[Category:Birds | + | [[Category:Birds]] |
Revision as of 07:21, 26 March 2008
- Sterna maxima
Thalasseus maximus
Identification
46-53cm. It has a long yellow bill, pale grey upperparts and white underparts. Its legs are black. In winter, the black cap becomes patchy.
Distribution
North America, Central America, South America, western Europe and Africa.
Taxonomy
Some authorities place the Royal Tern in the genus Thalasseus.
There are two subspecies, maximus and albididorsalis.
Habitat
Coasts and islands.
Behaviour
It nests in a ground scrape and lays 1-2 eggs.
It feeds by plunge-diving for fish.
