White-cheeked tern
| White-cheeked tern | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Sternidae |
| Genus: | Sterna |
| Species: | S. repressa |
| Binomial name | |
| Sterna repressa Hartert, 1916 | |
The white-cheeked tern (Sterna repressa) is a species of tern in the family Sternidae. It is found around the coasts on the Red Sea, around the Horn of Africa to Kenya, in the Persian Gulf and along the Iranian coast to Pakistan and western India.[2]
Behaviour
Most of this species is migratory, although those in East Africa may remain there all year. It breeds in colonies of 10–200 pairs. These colonies can consist of a mixture of tern species.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits tropical coasts and inshore waters, foraging mainly within 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of land over coral reefs. Its nest is a shallow scrape on rock, sand, gravel or coral islands, bare and exposed sandflats and sparsely vegetated open ground on sand-dunes and above the high-water mark on beaches.[3]
Diet
Its diet consists of invertebrates and small fish.[3]
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Sterna repressa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ↑ "Coursers, noddies, gulls, tern, auks and sandgrouse". International Ornithological Congress. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
- 1 2 3 "Sterna repressa". International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2015-01-12.