Yellow billed Tern (Sterna superciliaris)

Yellow-billed Tern

[order] Charadriiformes | [family] Sternidae | [latin] Sterna superciliaris | [UK] Yellow-billed Tern | [FR] Sterne argentee | [DE] Amazonasseeschwalbe | [ES] Charrancito amazonico | [IT] Sterna dell’Amazzonia | [NL] Amazonestern

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Physical charateristics

Small tern with a greenish bill, in breeding plamage dark grey above and white below. Forehead white with a black streak from bill to eyes. Lores, crown, nape and outer primaries black. tail grey, short and slightly forked. In non-breeders the crown is streaked with white. Favors broad rivers with sndy beaches or lake side baches.

Listen to the sound of Yellow-billed Tern

[audio:http://www.aviflevoland.nl/sounddb/Y/Yellow-billed Tern.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

wingspan min.: cm wingspan max.: cm
size min.: 24 cm size max.: 26 cm
incubation min.: 0 days incubation max.: 0 days
fledging min.: 0 days fledging max.: 0 days
broods: 0   eggs min.: 0  
      eggs max.: 0  

Range

Found in Brazil, the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia and, further south, in Argentina and Uruguay. In Suriname a quiet common bird along the rivers and lakes.

Habitat

Habitat includes marshes, swamps, freshwater lakes (>8 ha), Wetlands (inland) Rivers, streams and creeks.

Reproduction

Hardly any information. Brrees on broad sandshores during dry season alon rivers and lakes. Settles in small colonies of about 10 nests. Clutch size 2-3 eggs, most eggs are lost due to sudden flooding.

Feeding habits

Feeds plunch diving in water catching small fish. Also feeds on insects and crustaceans.

Conservation

This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 11,000,000 km

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