Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Hydroprogne caspia
Family: Skimmers, Noddies, Terns, and Gulls · Status: Vagrant · Size: 48–55 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Occurs across northern Africa, Europe, temperate Asia, Australasia, and North America; northern populations winter along coasts of Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, southern China, Southeast Asia, and the West Indies.
The largest tern species. Non-breeding adult has a diagnostic thick red bill, mostly black crown, nape and mask with whiter, dark-mottled forecrown, and a black subterminal marking on the bill-tip. Breeding adult has all-black forehead to nape and mask. First-winter resembles non-breeding adult but has darker secondaries, primary upperwing-coverts and tail.
Coastal pools, mudflats and sandflats; last recorded at Mandai Mudflat in January 2011.
Forages by hovering over shallow waters and plunge-dives when a fish is spotted.