Terns (Sternidae) - HBW 3
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)
French: Sterne naine
German: Zwergseeschwalbe
Spanish: Charrancito Común
Taxonomy: Sterna albifrons Pallas, 1764, Netherlands.
Forms nearly cosmopolitan superspecies with S. saundersi, S. antillarum, S. superciliaris, S. lorata and probably also S. balaenarum, all of which formerly placed in separate genus Sternula. Some works treat S. antillarum, and sometimes S. saundersi, as conspecific with S. albifrons. Validity of races innominata and placens questionable. Apparent hybridization with S. nereis in S Australia indicates close relationship; long-term study of relationships required. Six subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- albifrons Pallas, 1764 - Europe through W Asia E to Nepal, and presumably this race also in Kenya (breeding at L Turkana), and in W Indian Ocean (Seychelles and Comoro Is, where resident, but breeding not confirmed); winters on coasts from Africa E to W India.
- guineae Bannerman, 1931 - Ghana to Gabon, with marginal population in Mauritania and Senegal which may be this race or nominate.
- innominata Zarudny & Loudon, 1902 - islands in Persian Gulf.
- albifrons Pallas, 1764 - Europe through W Asia E to Nepal, and presumably this race also in Kenya (breeding at L Turkana), and in W Indian Ocean (Seychelles and Comoro Is, where resident, but breeding not confirmed); winters on coasts from Africa E to W India.
- guineae Bannerman, 1931 - Ghana to Gabon, with marginal population in Mauritania and Senegal which may be this race or nominate.
- innominata Zarudny & Loudon, 1902 - islands in Persian Gulf.
- pusilla Temminck, 1840 - NE India and Myanmar, islands off Sumatra and Java, and probably this race in Sri Lanka.
- sinensis Gmelin, 1789 - SE Russia, China, Japan, SE Asia, Philippines and New Guinea; recent colonist to Micronesia (Saipan) E to Hawaii most likely this race, and possibly also some birds in Australia, New Britain and nearby waters; N populations mostly winter in Malaysia.
- placens Gould, 1871 - E Australia and E Tasmania.
- Least Concern
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An adult feeding small fish to its chicks in the nest Ebro Delta, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain (ssp albifrons)
Pedro Rubio 1994 7 years ago 23 sec 4.4 -
An adult preening on the beach Henley Beach, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (ssp placens)
Philip Griffin 7 November 2005 4 years ago 18 sec 4.2 -
An immature resting on the beach Henley Beach, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (ssp placens)
Philip Griffin 7 November 2005 4 years ago 15 sec 4.2 -
A bird preening on the beach Henley Beach, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (ssp placens)
Philip Griffin 7 November 2005 4 years ago 9 sec 3.9 -
A group on the ground, and two adults preening Manly, Queensland, Australia (ssp placens)
Tom Tarrant 28 February 1997 4 years ago 9 sec 2.6 -
A adult bird in summer plumage. Doñana National Park, Andalucia, Spain
Yoel Jimenez 25 May 2003 23 weeks ago 42 sec 2.5
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A bird at nest Axios Delta, Greece
Theo Mamais 1 June 2003 50 weeks ago 4.3 -
Sterna albifrons Marina del Carmolí, Murcia, Spain
Conrado Requena Az... 24 May 2008 10 weeks ago 4 -
A bird at nest Axios Delta, Greece
Theo Mamais 1 June 2003 50 weeks ago 4 -
A portrait of a bird Axios Delta, Greece
Theo Mamais 1 June 2003 1 year ago 4 -
A bird with an egg Axios Delta, Greece
Theo Mamais 1 June 2003 51 weeks ago 3.5 -
A bird in the nest with a chick Axios Delta, Greece
Theo Mamais 1 June 2003 1 year ago 3.5
- No sound recordings available yet
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