Chinese Crested Tern
Thalasseus bernsteini
Critically endangered tern, long thought to breed solely on a few islands off the coast of China's Fujian province but recently noted breeding on islets off South Korea as well. Similar to Great Crested Tern (among which it nests) but smaller and paler, with darker outer primaries and dark cap that extends to the base of the orange-tipped bill. Much larger Great Crested has yellowish-green bill and white at bill base. Voice similar to Great Crested but higher in pitch.
Identification
It is closely related to the Sandwich tern, T. sandvicensis, and the lesser crested tern, T. bengalensis. It is most similar to the former, differing only in the bill pattern, which is the reverse of the Sandwich tern's, being yellow with a black tip. From the lesser crested tern, which it overlaps in wintering distribution, it can be told by the white rump and paler grey mantle, as well as the black tip to the bill, which seen from up close also has a white point. The larger greater crested tern is also similar, differing in its stouter, all-yellow bill and darker grey mantle and rump, as well as in size.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Thalasseus bernsteini
- Authority
- (Schlegel, 1863)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
- Genus
- Thalasseus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : islands off Zhejiang and Fujian (e China coast)
- Non-breeding range
- Philippines, Borneo, Halmahera (n Moluccas) and Seram (ec Moluccas; few records anywhere)
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Black-and-red Broadbill
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos
Utterly unmistakable inhabitant of waterside and riverine lowland evergreen forests, mangroves, and plantations. Midnight black with long white slashes on each wing, wine-red underparts, and a black chinstrap. Bulbous bill is glowingly powder-blue with warm tinges of orange and greenish-yellow. During the breeding season, the pendulous nests of this species can be quite obvious, hanging over forested waterways. Voice is nasal and generally unpleasant-sounding, consisting of odd low mechanical rasps.
Northern White-faced Owl
Ptilopsis leucotis
A relatively small owl, though larger than most scops-owls. Mostly pale gray, with a white face set off by black borders and yellow-orange eyes. Found in dry savanna habitats, where it often spends the day roosting on surprisingly open perches. Very similar to Southern White-faced Owl and best separated by call, but there is little or no overlap in range. The call is a quiet, two-parted “huu-hoooo.”
Cachar Bulbul
Iole cacharensis
A drab, brownish-green bulbul. Face and tail are darker brown, while the vent is rust-colored. The underparts are paler with a tinge of yellow on the throat and belly. Very similar to Olive Bulbul, with which it does not overlap in range, but the Cachar Bulbul is smaller, less rusty on the vent, and has more obvious yellow on the upperparts. Calls include short, wheezy whistles. Inhabits evergreen forests and plantations, where small groups forage in the mid-canopy.
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