Australian Tern
Gelochelidon macrotarsa
Medium-sized tern with thick black bill. Very pale overall with black cap in breeding plumage. Legs black. Nonbreeding plumage shows small dark cheek patch. Found both coastally and inland in a variety of wetland habitats, including beaches, mudflats, freshwater marshes, and even wet fields. Occasionally joins flocks with other terns, but more often seen singly or in pairs. Graceful in flight; swoops over ponds and marshes where it grabs invertebrates from the surface. Formerly considered part of Gull-billed Tern, and limits of the range of that species and Australian in New Guinea and southern Indonesia poorly understood.
识别特征
This is a fairly large and powerful tern, similar in size and general appearance to a Sandwich tern, but the short thick gull-like bill, broad wings, long legs and robust body are distinctive. The summer adult has grey upperparts, white underparts, a black cap, strong black bill and black legs. The call is a characteristic ker-wik. It is 33–42 cm (13–17 in) in length and 76–91 cm (30–36 in) in wingspan. Body mass ranges from 150–292 g (5.3–10.3 oz).<p>In winter, the cap is lost, and there is a dark patch through the eye like a Forster's tern or a Mediterranean gull. Juvenile Australian terns have a fainter mask, but otherwise look much like winter adults.
分类信息
John Gould described Sterna macrotarsa from a specimen held at King's College, London in 1837.
- 学名
- Gelochelidon macrotarsa
- 命名信息
- (Gould, 1837)
- 目
- Charadriiformes
- 科
- Laridae
- 属
- Gelochelidon
分布与栖息地
It breeds in Australia and New Guinea.
- 繁殖区
- AU : inland Australia (except sc, Tasmania)
- 非繁殖区
- to coastal s New Guinea and Timor (e Lesser Sundas)
- 迁徙
- Complete migrants
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- unknown
照片
分布
其他鸟类
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Glaucidium radiatum
Squat little owl with dense barring all over the body. Lacks the false eyes on the back of the head possessed by many other owlets. Gives bursts of loud hollow trills, comparable to barbets, as well as a mellow “kaaaooo-kaaaaooo-kah-ow!” A forest species, found in densely wooded areas in lowlands and foothills. Most active at dawn and dusk.
Yellow-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus malabaricus
Elegantly long-winged brown lapwing. Breeding adult has clean black cap, bright yellow facial wattles, and a white belly. Non-breeding adults and juveniles are more mottled overall and lack a solid black cap. Note contrasting wing and tail pattern when in flight. Prefers dry open areas, often well away from water. Gives a loud rasping tern-like call and a loud “cheeeee’it” in alarm; generally not as noisy as other lapwings.
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Small, streaky, brownish bird. Very common Madagascar endemic that is found in all open habitats; only absent from thick forest. Spends most of its time walking on the ground. Song is a simple mix of “chirrup” notes and trills, given in display flight. Similar to smaller Madagascar Cisticola, but has a shorter tail and bill and a streaky breast, and is usually seen walking on the ground. All other similar species have a different bill shape.
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