adult summer

adult summer adult winter European distribution summer adult flying

Identification

In summer plumage their black cap and white cheeks makes them look more like Common Terns than Black Terns but they have the short, broad wings and tails typical of 'marsh terns' and their underparts are such a deep grey that the white cheeks stand out boldly. In juvenile plumage, they have a dark mantle recalling the saddle effect which is a key feature of White-winged Black Terns. In a Whiskered Tern, however, this saddle is paler, browner and is noticeably interrupted by pale scaly markings. Also, the rump is not as conspicuously white as on a White-winged Black Tern and the wings of a Whiskered Tern are a more uniform grey. These features are also helpful in winter plumage when the crown goes mostly white, leaving a definite dark horizontal line going back from the eye. Also the bill is heavier than in other 'marsh terns'.

Habitat

Breeds in freshwater marshes, pools and fishponds.

Migration

Migrates to winter in sub-Saharan west Africa although some birds now remain in the Mediterranean. birds breeding in eastern Europe winter in large numbers in the nile Delta and East and South Africa.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Whiskered Tern is classed as Rare: species currently considered for acceptance by the British Birds Rarities Committee (or forms of equivalent rarity).

Venus Pool, Shrops 29/08/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 29/08/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 29/08/2010	Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland 07/08/2010	Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland 07/08/2010
Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland 07/08/2010	Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland 07/08/2010	Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland 02/08/2010	Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland 02/08/2010	Saltholme RSPB, Cleveland 28/07/2010

 View all pictures of Whiskered Tern

This species has been reported in the following areas (Bird News Extra subscribers can click a county name for more details):

Whiskered Tern breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Spain
Turkey
Ukraine

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