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;Sterna sandvicensis | ;Sterna sandvicensis | ||
[[Image:13783S Tern.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by NIGHTJAR1<br />Photo taken: Farne islands, U.K.]] | [[Image:13783S Tern.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by NIGHTJAR1<br />Photo taken: Farne islands, U.K.]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 37-43cm. Thin sharp bill is black with a yellow tip. Its short legs are black. Its upperwings are pale grey and its underparts white, the primary flight feathers darken during the summer. | ||
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Europe]] and a summer visitor to [[Britain]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | T. s. sandvicensis breeds on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of [[Europe]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | T. s. acuflavida breeds on Atlantic coasts of [[North America]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | T. s. eurygnatha (sometimes treated as a separate species, Cayenne Tern T. eurygnatha) breeds on the Atlantic coast of [[South America]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Coasts and islands. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | It nests in a ground scrape and lays 1-3 eggs. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Its diet includes fish which it catches by plunging into the sea. | ||
==Bird Song== | ==Bird Song== | ||
<flashmp3>Sterna sandvicensis (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Sterna sandvicensis (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
Revision as of 17:22, 11 March 2008
- Sterna sandvicensis
Identification
37-43cm. Thin sharp bill is black with a yellow tip. Its short legs are black. Its upperwings are pale grey and its underparts white, the primary flight feathers darken during the summer.
Distribution
Europe and a summer visitor to Britain.
Taxonomy
T. s. sandvicensis breeds on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe.
T. s. acuflavida breeds on Atlantic coasts of North America.
T. s. eurygnatha (sometimes treated as a separate species, Cayenne Tern T. eurygnatha) breeds on the Atlantic coast of South America.
Habitat
Coasts and islands.
Behaviour
It nests in a ground scrape and lays 1-3 eggs.
Its diet includes fish which it catches by plunging into the sea.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Sterna sandvicensis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
