Page 224 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Order Charadriiformes Family Sternidae Species Sterna dougallii
Roseate Tern
pale underwings
with no dark
black-brown dusky trailing edge
blackish streaks bars on back forehead
on wingtips
ADULT

black bill (red
blackish legs
base more
long smooth extensive in
white tail ADULT black cap late summer)
(LATE
streamers SUMMER) very pale grey
JUVENILE upperparts
IN FLIGHT

longish red legs
white underside,
flushed pink
FLIGHT: quite quick like large Little Tern; stocky
body, shortish wings, and very long tail distinctive.
ith worldwide populations going down, this is a rare bird
Win Europe, having suffered prolonged declines, which are ADULT
as much to do with problems in West Africa where it spends the (SPRING)
winter as in Europe. It forms a similar trio with Common and
Arctic Terns but is rather easier to tell from them, ELEGANT DISPLAY
with some features more reminiscent of the whiter, Roseate Terns are at their most
larger Sandwich Tern. Like the Arctic Tern, but graceful when they are displaying
unlike the Common Tern, it is unlikely to be seen during their spring courtship.
in northwest Europe in full winter plumage.
VOICE Harsh croaking note and musical, quick
chu-vik, unlike other terns.
NESTING Grassy nest often in tall vegetation or
under shelter of tussock; 1 or 2 eggs; 1 brood;
May–June.
FEEDING Plunges for fish, especially sandeels and
sprats after fast, winnowing hover.
SIMILAR SPECIES
OCCURRENCE
COMMON TERN dark band SANDWICH TERN ARCTIC TERN Scattered very locally in Great
on tip of underwings in see p.218 see p.221
flight; see p.220 spiky crest Britain, Ireland, and NW France,
pale-tipped greyer breeding in small numbers on
black bill vegetated islands. Scarce or rare
migrant off headlands or at mouth
greyer of estuaries; extremely rare inland.
shorter
legs Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 33–38cm (13–15in) Wingspan 75–80cm (30–32in) Weight 95–130g (3 3 ⁄8 –5oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Endangered
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