Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

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.

Featured articles:

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):

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Sep 24-Sep 30
Early date 26 Aug 2024
Late date 28 May 2009
A annual migrant through Singapore, with most records in Sep-Nov and much smaller numbers in the spring.
First winter Whiskered Tern at Sungei Serangoon. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
First winter Whiskered Tern at Sungei Serangoon. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
First winter Whiskered Tern at Kranji Marsh. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
First winter Whiskered Tern at Sungei Serangoon. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Whiskered Tern at Mandai Mudflats. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Whiskered Tern at Sungei Serangoon. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

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 18, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/whiskered-tern.

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