South American Tern
Sterna hirundinacea
Local Name: Split-tailed / Swallow-tailed
Gull
Breeding Range: Falklands & South
America
Length: 42cm.
Falklands Population: ~10,000 breeding pairs
World Population: unknown
The South American Tern is seen around most
Falkland coasts, but it breeds on remote coastal plains where human
disturbance is minimal, often in association with gulls.
Nests are closely packed together in colonies
of several hundred, each nest being a simple hollow, sometimes lined
with vegetation. Eggs are laid during November and December.
Breeding birds will attack people who approach
the nest site, but often abandon their nests following such disturbance.
The young fledge by February, and adults
and juveniles migrate northwards up the coast of South America between
April and September.
South American Terns feed on marine crustaceans
and small fish, which they take from the surface water by diving
down and plunging into the water, wings swept back like a dart.
Sexes are similar in appearance.
|
|
South American
Tern
Sterna hirundinacea
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adopt and name your penguin,
and we will send you reports and photos of your penguin's progress. We
will even send you a map to show you exactly where your penguin lives,
in case you ever want to visit. (Visitors are welcome).
Learn
More
|
|
|
The Falklands Regime by Mike Bingham
|
|
|
|
We are always pleased to receive donations
in support of our work. If you would like to make a donation, click
here. |
|
|