Terns range in size from the least tern, at 23 cm (9.1 in) in length and weighing 30–45 g (1.1–1.6 oz), to the Caspian ternat 48–56 cm (19–22 in), 500–700 g (18–25 oz). Inca tern numbers are affected by food resources, as well as El Niño and other strong storms. Inca terns are monogamous, pairs often returning to the same nesting site year on year. The red beak, red legs and characteristic white moustache of an Inca tern do not develop until they reach 1-2 years old. It breeds on coasts with sandy beaches and rocky cliffs, and may also frequent inshore guano islands and offshore islands near rocky coasts. Donate to support ABC's conservation mission! Inca Tern (Larosterna inca) Birds, Seabirds. Inca terns feed by plunge-diving from a height, after a brief flight above their prey, or by surface-dipping, whereby they swim or sit on the water and pick up prey from the surface. Male and female plumages are identical, although the male can be 2–5% larger than the female and often has a relatively larger bill. The inca tern is a blue-gray bird with unique white feathery tufts extending from its face, a red beak and a yellow wattle. BIRD OF THE WEEK: 7/18/2014 SCIENTIFIC NAME: Larosterna inca POPULATION: 150,000 TREND: Decreasing HABITAT: Pacific coast from Peru to Chile; breeds on inshore islands and coastal cliffs. The Inca tern inhabits South America’s west coast, from Ecuador to Peru and Chile. The parents both incubate and feed the chicks. Reproduction: Inca tern breeding season lasts throughout the year, during which pairs nest in crevices and on cliffs. Unfortunately, their populations are declining quickly because of the loss of nesting sites. This species breeds twice a year, firstly between April and July, secondly between October and December. Inca terns have a dark gray body and a red beak and legs. Peruvian Inca Tern. The young are grayish in color and fledge at about 4 weeks old. Following years of lobbying by in-country NGOs, the Peruvian government created the Guano Islands and Capes National Reserve in 2009, protecting Inca Tern as well as sea lion breeding colonies on 28 guano islands and cliffs along the coastline. the Inca Tern coincides with cessation of upwelling of the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Peruvian Current off the west coast of South America Figure 1. They often return to the same nest site for several years in a row, and both parents incubate and care for the chicks. Inca terns follow fishing boats and often associate with whales and sea lions when feeding, stealing food from these fellow marine mammals. Inca terns are carnivores (piscivores), they mainly eat the small anchovetta in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean, and they also eat crustaceans and offal. Geographic Range: Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae Genus: Larosterna Species: inca. Estimated Wild Population . Inca Tern: Scientific (Larosterna inca) Order: CHARADRIIFORMES: Family (Latin) Laridae: Family (English) Gulls, Terns, Skimmers: Other name(s) Regions: SA: Breeding Range Subregions: coastal n Peru to c Chile: Nonbreeding Range Subregions: Countries (BETA) map: Peru,Ecuador - mainland,Chile, Subspecies The double-whammy of over-fishing and excessive guano harvest—which eliminates nest sites—has been compounded by the effects of the El Niño cycle, which affects fish stocks.". Like Least Terns, Inca Terns feed by plunge diving and surface dipping. They will also scavenge from fishing vessels. This striking bird occupies part of the same habitat ruled by the ancient Inca Empire in South America. A graceful flier, this seabird hovers over the water until it hones in on a small fish, such as an anchovy, just below the surface of the water. They have been included in the “close to vanishing species” category. When sea lions catch fish and then haul out onto rocks in order to eat them, large flocks of Inca terns may hover above them and then plunge down and steal the chewed-up food out from between the teeth of the sea lions. McCormick Bird House. The recording at the top of this page, from Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge outside of Lima, Peru, gives an idea of what these noisy colonies are like. It is endemic to the area of the Humboldt Current. Production of guano can also reduce the number of nesting sites available, and cats and rats may eat eggs and chicks. The terns will also nest in abandoned Humboldt penguin nests. They also perform courtship feeding while following the female while flying, with a fish in their bill. It occurs along the Pacific Coast from northern Peru to central Chile. According to the IUCN Red List, the total Inca tern population size is more than 150,000 individuals. The Inca tern has mainly dark plumage, and three species that mainly eat insects, the black tern, white-winged tern, and black-bellied tern, have black underparts in the breeding season. It sometimes plucks pieces of fish out from between sea lions’ teeth. Class. They are longer-billed, lighter-bodied, and more streamlined than gulls, and their long tails and long narrow wings give them an elegance in flight. 2. All plumages … Males perform an agile flight display to impress their chosen female. The species is found only near the cold waters of the Humboldt Current, where the birds feed on anchovies and other small fish. HABITAT: Pacific coast from Peru to Chile; breeds on inshore islands and coastal cliffs. Northern Peru through southern Chile. Rats, cats, and other introduced predators on some islands also affect nesting and breeding success. The Anous noddies have dark plumage with a pale head cap. Currently this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) and their numbers today are decreasing. Inca Tern (Larosterna inca) Peruvian Thick-knee (Burhinus superciliaris) Chestnut-mandibled (Swainson’s) Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii) * Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) Reptiles and Amphibians. 1-3 eggs are laid and incubation lasts for about 3-4 weeks. The adult is slate grey in colour, with long white-tipped wings, a slightly forked tail and dark red feet and bill. The biggest threat currently is over-fishing, as this reduces the fish available for the terns to eat. As far as seabirds go, the Inca tern is a colorful one. Inca Tern Larosterna inca Range. Inca terns are native to the same region of South America as the ancient Inca Empire—hence their name. Inca terns feed in a different depth of water to Humboldt penguins and thus the two are able to coexist. The inca tern is an agile flier that will swoop and hover before diving after its prey. They reach their independence one month later and will be ready to breed at age 2 or 3. It breeds on coasts with sandy beaches and rocky cliffs, and may also frequent inshore guano islands and offshore islands near rocky coasts. This information is used to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Physical Description. The Inca tern (Larosterna inca) is a tern in the family Laridae. Ocean coasts and rocky islands. Geographic range: Larosterna inca: Islands off Peru and Chile; ranges rarely n to Ecuador; Source: Clements checklist. The longest moustaches belong to the healthiest birds. One of many Inca Terns (Larosterna inca), a seabird of the Peruvian Current, observed in the Bay of Panama during the summer of 1983. Inca Tern on The IUCN Red List site -, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22694834/0. Our site uses cookies to collect anonymous information about your use of our website. Courtship consists of an elaborate ritual, particularly for birds seeking their mate for the very first time. View on Map. Larosterna inca. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) Yellow-and-blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus) Shoreline; Diet. Declining fish stocks are one of the reasons for this species' population decline. The moustache length of the Inca tern seems related to its health. The Inca tern inhabits South America’s west coast, from Ecuador to Peru and Chile. Inca Tern. The adult Inca terns with the longer moustaches are the most productive birds and they have heavier chicks with better immune responses.
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