Charadriiformes Sternidae Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
[order] Charadriiformes | [family] Sternidae | [latin] Chlidonias hybridus | [UK] Whiskered Tern | [FR] Guifette moustac | [DE] Weißbart-Seeschwalbe | [ES] GaviotÃn Bigotudo | [IT] Mignattino piombato | [NL] Witwangstern
Physical charateristics
Slender, medium tern, with wings more rounded than in typical tern. 26 cm, 60-100 g, wingspan 65-70 cm.
Forehead to nape black, with contrasting white cheeks. Upperpars, including rump and tail, mid-grey. Underparts grey, darker on belly, with contrasting pale grey underwing and white undertail coverts.
Shortish tail with only slight fork. Iris dark brown. Bill dark reddish, legs red.
Superficially resembles S. repressa and S. paradisaea, but darker below, with much shorter tail.
Non-breeding adult very pale above and below, with dark-flecked pale crown, black patch behind eye merging into dark band across nape, and black bill.
Female significantly smaller than male in all dimensions.
Races differ somewhat in coloration of breeding plumage, but only slightly in size, delalandii darkest, with white cheek stripe narrower.
Forehead to nape black, with contrasting white cheeks. Upperpars, including rump and tail, mid-grey. Underparts grey, darker on belly, with contrasting pale grey underwing and white undertail coverts.
Shortish tail with only slight fork. Iris dark brown. Bill dark reddish, legs red.
Superficially resembles S. repressa and S. paradisaea, but darker below, with much shorter tail.
Non-breeding adult very pale above and below, with dark-flecked pale crown, black patch behind eye merging into dark band across nape, and black bill.
Female significantly smaller than male in all dimensions.
Races differ somewhat in coloration of breeding plumage, but only slightly in size, delalandii darkest, with white cheek stripe narrower.
| wingspan min.: | 74 | cm | wingspan max.: | 78 | cm |
| size min.: | 23 | cm | size max.: | 25 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 18 | days | incubation max.: | 20 | days |
| fledging min.: | 21 | days | fledging max.: | 25 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 2 | ||
| eggs max.: | 3 |
Distribution
Chlidonias hybrida is a widespread but patchily distributed summer visitor to southern
and eastern Europe, which accounts for less than half of its global breeding range.
Its European breeding population is relatively small (<87,000 pairs), and underwent a moderate decline between 1970-1990. Although the species was broadly stable overall during 1990-2000—with stable, fluctuating or increasing trends across most of its European range—its population has not yet recovered to the level that preceded its decline. Consequently, it is evaluated as Depleted.
This species has a very fragmented distribution in southern Eurasia, south-eastern Africa and Australia. European birds winter in the Mediterranean regions and in sub-Saharan Africa. The total population of the European Union is estimated at 7000-11000 breeding pairs, 70-75% of which are breeding in Spain (Tucker & Heath). This species has widely fluctuated and its global trends are not well known, but the Spanish population is definitely decreasing. The main reasons for this are wetland reclamation and canalisation of rivers.
and eastern Europe, which accounts for less than half of its global breeding range.
Its European breeding population is relatively small (<87,000 pairs), and underwent a moderate decline between 1970-1990. Although the species was broadly stable overall during 1990-2000—with stable, fluctuating or increasing trends across most of its European range—its population has not yet recovered to the level that preceded its decline. Consequently, it is evaluated as Depleted.
This species has a very fragmented distribution in southern Eurasia, south-eastern Africa and Australia. European birds winter in the Mediterranean regions and in sub-Saharan Africa. The total population of the European Union is estimated at 7000-11000 breeding pairs, 70-75% of which are breeding in Spain (Tucker & Heath). This species has widely fluctuated and its global trends are not well known, but the Spanish population is definitely decreasing. The main reasons for this are wetland reclamation and canalisation of rivers.
Listen to the sound of Whiskered Tern
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
Habitat
Breeds on vegetated inland lakes, marshes and rivers, mainly in lowlands. Feeds over lakes, marshes, and rice fields, but also over sprouted farm fields, and coastal lagoons, tidal mudflats and estuaries.
Foraging habits
Diet mainly aquatic and terrestrial insects, also small crabs, fish and frogs.
Flies back and forth or flutters up to 5 m above water, then swoops or drops to pick up small surface items. Often hawks insects over fields and lake margins. Generally forages within 1-2 km of colony.
Flies back and forth or flutters up to 5 m above water, then swoops or drops to pick up small surface items. Often hawks insects over fields and lake margins. Generally forages within 1-2 km of colony.
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Breeding habits
Breeds May-June in Europe, December in Africa and November-December in Australia. Usually in monospecific colonies up to 100 pairs. Broad but flimsy nest placed on floating or emergent vegetation over water. In very shallow water, nest may rest on bottom, alternatively nest of dry grass on water-lily leaves. 2-3 eggs are laid, incubation 18-20 days. Chicks are black-spotted buff, with black forehead, creamy breast, black bill and pink legs. First breeding at 2 years.
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 1,000,000-10,000,000 km². It has a large global population estimated to be 240,000-1,300,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. (source Birdlife.org)
Migration
Populations from West Europe migrate to West Africa. East European birds winter mostly in East Africa, with a few in Southern Middle East. Those from Caspian and Turkestan Zone winter from Iran to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and possibly East Africa. Migration of race swinhoei poorly known, but small numbers winter in Thailand, indicus is irregular migrant in Nepal, usually in small numbers. Australian birds mainly nomadic, but those from South Australia migrate North.
Distribution map breeding season
Literature
Title Reproductive parameters in relation to food supply in the whiskered tern ( Chlidonias hybrida )
Author(s): Jean-Marc Paillisson, Sébastien Reeber, Alexandre Carpentier and Loïc Marion
Abstract: It is generally accepted that breeding terns are s..[more]..
Source: J Ornithol (2007) 148:79-84