Kerguelen Tern
Sterna virgata
A slender tern with a short bill. Breeding adults are dark-capped with an ashy-gray body, a strongly contrasting white cheek stripe and rump, and a reddish bill and legs. In flight, underwings and uppertail are mostly grayish. In non-breeding plumage resembles other non-breeding terns, but note structure. Restricted to a handful of subantarctic islands, where it forages in inshore waters; common on Kerguelen and uncommon on Crozet and Marion. In breeding plumage, the larger Antarctic Tern is paler gray than Kerguelen, with a larger bill and whitish (not grayish) uppertail and underwings. Arctic Terns (in non-breeding plumage) only overlap with Kerguelen Terns (in breeding plumage) in austral summer.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Sterna virgata
- Authority
- Cabanis, 1875
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
- Genus
- Sterna
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Berlepsch's Canastero
Asthenes berlepschi
Short-tailed canastero endemic to the Sorata vicinity in northern Bolivia. Prefers montane scrub on hillsides, but occasionally near human development and open Polylepis forest. Very similar to Creamy-breasted Canastero, but note pale face and whitish breast. Song a series of notes starting with a dry sputter, then erupting into a high and emphatic descending series of squeaks that accelerates at the end.
Chestnut-throated Spinetail
Synallaxis cherriei
Rather nondescript rufous bird with a long, spiky tail. The plumage is mostly chestnut with a dark brown rump, tail, and underparts. Found patchily in humid primary and second growth, usually in light gaps or in bamboo or vine tangles, where it typically forages near the ground. The song is a distinctive “prrrr-préét” of which the second note is higher. The similar Ruddy Spinetail has a black throat patch.
Common Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
A plain brown bird with a pale eyering and rusty-brown tail, best known for its rich, powerful song which can keep people awake when given at night. In areas of overlap, compare with extremely similar Thrush Nightingale; note present species’ unmarked pale underparts, often with a variable buffy wash, as well as its warmer-toned back and brighter rufous tail. Song is extremely variable, and can include whistles, trills, rattles, and warbled phrases; elements often repeated. Calls include a very difficult-to-locate “teek”, low rattles, and harsh rasping calls. Found in varied wooded and scrubby habitats, typically with shady understory. Winters in similarly varied tangled habitats. Typically rather shy and elusive.
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