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Description
Length: 38
cm (15 in) Terns are related to gulls, but are usually smaller,
with narrower pointed bills, pointed wings and forked tails. Large
tern; upper body dark gray, greenish legs, yellow feet, black
crown, white underparts, gray slightly-forked tail. In flight
white triangular area on secondary wing feathers. Heavy yellow
bill; face and throat bare with red skin.
Range
Caribbean;
Central America south from Panama; South America east of Andes
to northern Argentina; western Ecuador.
Habitat
Live near
large rivers and estuaries in the Caribbean; river and lake beaches
in South America; sometimes inland up to 3100 m elevation. When
not breeding, may be found near estuaries and coastlines.
Niche
Usually found
singly or in pairs, but when resting may aggregate in small flocks.
Noisy birds; make sounds variously described as "squee", "gheh-gheh"
and "ga-gaa-a".
Life History
Breed in colonies,
sometimes mixed with other tern species, in late July through
September (Amazon); December through February (Orinoco and northern
South America). Breeds on sand bars in Amazon River; lays 2 blotchy
and spotted olive brown eggs.
Status
Common
along Amazon; rare in northern South America near Orinoco and
Rio Negro. Captured for pets by some indigenous peoples.
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