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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An individual fishing in flight (50% speed). Locality Grytviken, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 12 April 2012 1 year 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 1 year 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 1 year ago 20 sec 3.3
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An adult flying in front of a sailboat
Locality St Andrews Bay, South Georgia (ssp georgiae)
Laurent Demongin 8 October 2008 4 years ago 2
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A group of adults calling Locality St Andrews Bay, South Georgia
Laurent Demongin 25 September 2008 3 years ago 4 -
Calls by one bird perched and flying away. Locality Grytviken, South Georgia
(ssp georgiae)
Josep del Hoyo 8 April 2012 52 weeks ago 3.5
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