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10

White-cheeked Tern

(Sterna repressa)
Size: 32-34 cm; wing span: 58-63 cm

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See White-cheeked Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Lateral view of White-cheeked Terns in breeding plumage
[Near Sur, May 2010]

White-cheeked Terns in breeding plumage
[Near Sur, May 2010]

Frontal view of a White-cheeked Tern in breeding plumage (the bird on the left raising its head), seen together with Lesser Crested Terns (orange bills) and a taller Greater Crested Tern in the background, with its yellow bill
[Near Sur, May 2010]

Near-dorsal view of a White-cheeked Tern in breeding plumage in flight
[Near Sur, May 2010]

In this photo several species of terns are shown: The second bird from the right and from the left are White-cheeked Terns; those with orange bills are all Lesser Crested Terns; the two taller birds on the right with dark bills are Sandwich Terns
[Near Sur, May 2010]

Here a White-cheeked Tern (right) together with a few Crested Terns (centre) and a Sandwich Tern on the left
[Near Sur, May 2010]

Food, Diet

Like all terns, White-cheeked Terns feed on fish, which they catch with their bills just under the surface of water 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.

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