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
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 October 30, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/whiskered-tern.