South American Tern
Falklandseeschwalbe (Sterna hirundinacea )
The Falklandseeschwalbe (Sterna hirundinacea ) is a monotypic species of the tern family. It is found only in South America and the Falkland Islands.
Appearance
The Falklandseeschwalbe reaches a body length of 41-43 inches. The wing length is 28.4 to 31.5 inches and the wingspan 84 to 96 centimeters. Falklandseeschwalben reach a weight 172-196 grams. Males tend to have a slightly longer tail than females.
The Falklandseeschwalbe making it a medium-sized Seeschwalbenart. It is very bright with a light gray body top and an even lighter underparts. The tail is deeply forked. The legs are relatively long for a Sterna species. Adult in breeding plumage Falklandseeschwalben have a black head, the staining extends to the neck. The outer primaries are slightly darker than the rest of the swing. On the underside of the outer wings have weak dark spots that form a fuzzy demarcated darker hem. The beak and legs are red. In Plain dress the dark head cap is less pronounced, the forehead is whitish. The red color of bill and legs is slightly duller than in breeding plumage. Young birds resemble the adult in the simplicity dress. The beak is black and the feet are brownish- yellowish.
Possible confusion arise, for instance with the Antipodenseeschwalbe, the Arctic Tern and Common Tern.
Dissemination
The Falklandseeschwalbe broods from the coasts of Peru and eastern Brazil to Tierra del Fuego. It is also a breeding bird of the Falkland Islands. The majority of the population moves to the breeding season to the north and then reached the Pacific coast of Ecuador.
Way of life
The Falklandseeschwalbe eats mainly small fish and crustaceans, and probably also insects. Their food they catch the occasional shock by diving from a height of up to seven meters. While their food flights often follows porpoises and predators.
The breeding season falls in the south of its range in the period from October to January. In Brazil, she broods, however, in the period April to June. It is a colony breeders and breed in densely populated colonies, sometimes consisting of up to 10,000 breeding pairs. The nest is a shallow depression which is sometimes edged with shells and stones and covered with grass. The nest consists of two to three eggs. These are incubated for 21 to 23 days. The young birds fledge at an age of about 27 days.