Scientific Name: Chlidonias hybrida
Malay Name: Camar Tasik Bermisai Biasa
Chinese Name: 须浮鸥
Range: Found from Africa to southern Europe, temperate Asia and discontinuously to southern Australia. Northern population winters to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: hybrida, delalandii, javanicus.
Local Subspecies: hybrida
Size: 24-28 cm
Identification: Non-breeding adult has relatively short, blackish bill, mask, hindcrown and nape, white crown with dark streaks at rear, dark reddish legs/feet, shortish shallow forked tail and uniform grey upperside. Breeding adult has dark red bill/legs/feet and black forehead to nape. Juvenile resembles non-breeding adult but has buff-brown markings on scapulars and back.
Similar looking species: Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern, White-winged Tern
Habitat: Open seas, coastal habitats, mudflats, marshes and reservoirs.
Behaviour/Ecology: Usually seen with White-winged and Little Terns. Feeds largely by skimming low over water surface.
Local Status: Uncommon migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2017)
Location: Lorong Halus, Kranji Reservoir, Straits of Johor and Straits of Singapore.
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Featured reports: Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Apr 2023, Aug 2023, Sep 2023, Oct 2023, Nov 2023, Dec 2023, Aug 2024, Sep 2024, Oct 2024
Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Whiskered Tern)
References:
BirdLife International. (2017). Chlidonias hybrida. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22694764A111750380.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Whiskered Tern. Retrieved on December 11, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/whiskered-tern.