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Lesser Crested Tern
(Sterna [Thalasseus] bengalensis)
Size: 37-42 cm; wing span ca. 90 cm
Weight: 185-315 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Lesser Crested Terns are medium-sized terns.
During the
breeding season they have a black cap,
white front (throat, neck, chest, belly and vent) and grey
wings. The black eyes are surrounded by the black cap, while
the frons (base of the bill) is white. The pointy, long bill is
orange; the short legs and feet are black.
In eclipse
the front of the cap becomes white, the back part forms a
mottled black-and-white nape of the neck.
Juvenile
birds are mottled grey, with a white cap and a black
nape of the neck.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared to Crested
Terns, the Lesser Crested Tern is smaller and has an orange bill
(rather than yellow).
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Lesser
Crested Tern at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Lesser Crested Tern is available
HERE
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There are three races of Lesser Crested Terns, which are a
partly migratory species.
Nominate race
"bengalensis" breeds along the coastline of the northern Indian
Ocean and the Persian Gulf. This race spends the northern winters in
southern Africa.
Race "emigrata", which breeds on islands off the north-western coastline
of Africa, spends the winters farther South, in West Africa.
Race "torresii",
which populates parts of Indonesia and coastal northern Australia (on
both sides of the Torres Strait, hence the name), is sedentary.
In Australia only race
"torresii"
is found. They migrate to the northern seaboard of Australia from the
North. There they populate the coastline from about Carnarvon, WA, to
the QLD/NSW border on the East coast. They are not found anywhere inland.
Lesser Crested Terns can be found along the coastline, e.g. on
beaches. They also
venture out to sea,
into coastal waters
above the continental shelf and are found on several offshore islands.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "torresii"
H. Mouritsen spotted Lesser Crested Terns, race
"torresii",
on One Tree Island, Capricornia Cays NP, near Rockhampton, QLD, in
January 2011.
B. Hensen reports spotting Lesser Crested Terns, race
"torresii",
at Nightcliff, NT, in March 2013 and at Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT,
in August 2013.
We first spotted Lesser Crested Terns, race
"torresii",
at Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, in August 2014.
M. Eaton reports finding a Lesser Crested Tern, race
"torresii",
at Buffalo Creek beach, Darwin, NT, in August 2020.
Race "bengalensis"
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Photos |
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Race "torresii"
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
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View of a Lesser Crested Tern in breeding plumage seen banking in-flight,
thereby giving a good view of its upperwing pattern (photo courtesy
of H. Mouritsen)
[One Tree Island, Capricornia Cays NP, QLD, January 2011]
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NON-BREEDING |
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Near-lateral view of a Lesser Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage, left, with two Crested Terns, also in non-breeding
plumage (photo courtesy
of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2013]
Lateral view of Lesser Crested Terns in non-breeding plumage, front, with a Crested Tern, also in non-breeding
plumage, visible in the
background
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, August 2014]
Lesser Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage (orange bill), flanked by
Crested Terns
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Nightcliff, NT, March 2013]
Two Lesser Crested Terns in non-breeding plumage, front, with orange bills,
together with one juvenile (speckled plumage, partly hidden) and two adult
Crested Terns;
also visible in this shot is an Eastern Curlew (photo courtesy of
B. Hensen)
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2013]
Lesser Crested Tern in non-breeding plumage seen in-flight from underneath,
thereby giving a good view of its underwing pattern (photo courtesy
of H. Mouritsen)
[One Tree Island, Capricornia Cays NP, QLD, January 2011]
Race "bengalensis"
Lesser Crested Terns, race "bengalensis",
were photographed by us in Oman.
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Food, Diet |
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Like all terns, Lesser Crested Terns feed on fish, which they catch with
their bills just under the water surface in a steep high-speed dive from
considerable height.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.