Terns (Sternidae)
Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) - HBW 3, p. 654
French: Sterna couronnée
German: Antarktikseeschwalbe
Spanish: Charrán Antártico
Taxonomy: Sterna vittata Gmelin, 1789, Kerguelen Island.
Birds of St Paul and Amsterdam Is sometimes included in nominate vittata; further study required. Six subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- tristanensis Murphy, 1938 - Tristan da Cunha, Gough, and possibly Amsterdam and St Paul; single breeding report from South Africa questioned, but based on a ringing recovery.
- georgiae Reichenow, 1904 - South Georgia; birds of South Orkney Is, South Sandwich Is and Bouvetøya I possibly of this race.
- gaini Murphy, 1938 - South Shetland Is; presumably this race breeds S to Marguerite Bay on Antarctic Peninsula.
- tristanensis Murphy, 1938 - Tristan da Cunha, Gough, and possibly Amsterdam and St Paul; single breeding report from South Africa questioned, but based on a ringing recovery.
- georgiae Reichenow, 1904 - South Georgia; birds of South Orkney Is, South Sandwich Is and Bouvetøya I possibly of this race.
- gaini Murphy, 1938 - South Shetland Is; presumably this race breeds S to Marguerite Bay on Antarctic Peninsula.
- vittata Gmelin, 1789 - Prince Edward I, Marion I, Crozet Is, Kerguelen Is, and (probably this race) Heard I.
- bethunei Buller, 1896 - Stewart I, and Snares Is, Auckland Is, Bounty Is, Antipodes Is and Campbell I.
- macquariensis Falla, 1937 - Macquarie I.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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When the wind is strong, they fish in calm place, close to the shore Locality St Andrews Bay, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Laurent Demongin 8 October 2008 4 years ago 50 sec 5 -
Close-up of an adult in full breeding plumage sitting on rocks Locality St Andrews Bay, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Laurent Demongin 25 September 2008 4 years ago 30 sec 5 -
Close-up of adults in partial breeding plumage (bill with dark tip) and of an immature sitting on rocks Locality St Andrews Bay, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Laurent Demongin 25 September 2008 4 years ago 32 sec 4.7 -
A bird perched on a rope, calling and displaying. Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 14 April 2012 48 weeks ago 28 sec 4.6 -
Several views of a bird perched on a wooden platform and flying away. Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 8 April 2012 47 weeks ago 24 sec 4.6 -
Group of adults in breeding plumage and immature landing on rocks and calling Locality St Andrews Bay, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Laurent Demongin 25 September 2008 4 years ago 27 sec 4.5 -
A close-up of an individual perched on a wooden platform, looking around. Locality Fortuna Bay, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 8 April 2012 1 year ago 26 sec 4.4 -
A bird perched on a rope preening the dorsal feathers (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 23 sec 4.3 -
A bird perched on a rope, preening. Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 16 sec 4.2 -
A bird fishing Locality South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Helmut Schenkel Brunner 31 October 2000 5 years ago 13 sec 4.2 -
An individual perched on a rock, calling and flying away. Locality Penguin River, Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 11 April 2012 49 weeks ago 27 sec 4.2 -
A bird perched on a wooden platform looking for preys, then a view when diving and flying off. Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 8 April 2012 47 weeks ago 20 sec 4 -
A bird landing on a beach (slow motion 50%) and yawning while resting. Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 21 sec 4 -
An individual in flight, diving for food (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 27 sec 4 -
An individual perched on a rope, turning around (slow motion 50%). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 23 sec 4 -
A bird calling from a rock, on the coast, responding to another individual (probably its pair) who's flying. Locality Penguin River, Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 11 April 2012 49 weeks ago 30 sec 4 -
A bird fishing along a beach Locality St Andrews Bay, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Laurent Demongin 4 October 2008 4 years ago 32 sec 4 -
A bird on the top of a pole. Then, a group of birds flying above an old building Locality Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica (ssp gaini)
Gus Yaki 5 February 2000 5 years ago 27 sec 3.9 -
Zoom in to a bird perched on a rope, from the ship (50% slow motion). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 25 sec 3.8 -
An individual flying and fishing (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 44 sec 3.8 -
A pair displaying on a beach, the male offering a little fish to the female and both flying away. Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 20 sec 3.7 -
An adult flying and looking for food Locality Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina
Greg Baker 8 February 2005 2 years ago 23 sec 3.7 -
A bird flying and fishing (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 48 weeks ago 24 sec 3.6 -
A bird hovering at sea, diving for food (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 27 sec 3.5 -
A bird bathing in flight at sea (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 47 sec 3.5 -
A bird in flight over the water (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 21 sec 3.5 -
A bird diving twice and flying away (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 21 sec 3.5 -
A group of birds resting and sleeping on the coast, among rocks. Locality Prion Island, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 9 April 2012 49 weeks ago 26 sec 3.5 -
Birds flying and pecking food around a Leopard Seal eating a King Penguin Locality Right Whale Bay, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Laurent Demongin 30 September 2008 4 years ago 31 sec 3.5 -
A bird fishing Locality Neko Harbour, Andvord Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica (ssp gaini)
Gus Yaki 4 February 2000 5 years ago 29 sec 3.5 -
An individual fishing in flight (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 40 sec 3.4 -
A pair of birds on a rock Locality Neko Harbour, Andvord Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica (ssp gaini)
Gus Yaki 4 February 2000 5 years ago 39 sec 3.4 -
An individual flying, seen from below (slow motion 50%). Locality Prion Island, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 9 April 2012 49 weeks ago 22 sec 3.3 -
Two birds preening Locality Neko Harbour, Andvord Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica (ssp gaini)
Gus Yaki 4 February 2000 5 years ago 10 sec 3.3 -
An adult bird flying Locality Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica (ssp gaini)
Gus Yaki 5 February 2000 5 years ago 14 sec 3.3 -
A bird flying over the sea (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 48 weeks ago 20 sec 3.3 -
Juveniles and adults dip-feeding close to a rocky shore Locality Prion Island, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Greg Baker 22 February 2005 2 years ago 52 sec 3.3
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