Australian tern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian tern |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Gelochelidon
|
| Species: |
macrotarsa
|
The Australian tern or Australian gull-billed tern (Gelochelidon macrotarsa) is a type of tern that belongs to the Laridae family. Its scientific name, Gelochelidon, comes from two Ancient Greek words: gelao, meaning "to laugh," and khelidon, meaning "swallow". This bird was once thought to be the same species as the regular gull-billed tern, but now it's recognized as its own unique species.
Contents
About the Australian Tern
How it was Discovered
A famous bird expert named John Gould first described the Australian tern in 1837. He gave it the scientific name Sterna macrotarsa after studying a bird specimen in London.
What it Looks Like
The Australian tern is a fairly large and strong bird. It's similar in size to a Sandwich tern, but it has some special features. It has a short, thick bill that looks a bit like a gull's bill. It also has wide wings, long legs, and a strong body.
In summer, adult Australian terns have grey feathers on their backs and white feathers underneath. They have a black cap on their head, a strong black bill, and black legs. When they call, they make a sound like ker-wik. These birds are about 33 to 42 centimeters (13 to 17 inches) long. Their wings can spread out from 76 to 91 centimeters (30 to 36 inches) wide. They usually weigh between 150 and 292 grams (5.3 to 10.3 ounces).
In winter, the black cap on their head disappears. Instead, they have a dark patch around their eye, similar to a Forster's tern or a Mediterranean gull. Young Australian terns have a lighter eye patch but otherwise look a lot like adults in winter.
Where it Lives
The Australian tern breeds in Australia and New Guinea. This means they build their nests and raise their young in these areas.
Its Life and Habits
Australian terns often breed in large groups called colonies. They choose places near lakes, marshes, and coasts to build their nests. They make a simple nest on the ground, which is just a shallow scrape. In this nest, they lay two to five eggs.
This tern is a bit different from other terns. While it looks like a Sterna tern, its eating habits are more like the Chlidonias marsh terns, such as the black tern and white-winged tern.
Unlike many other white terns, the Australian gull-billed tern usually doesn't dive headfirst into the water to catch fish. Instead, it has a wider variety of foods it eats. It mostly catches insects while flying. It also often hunts over wet fields and even in bushy areas to find amphibians and small mammals. These birds are also very good at finding food when they can. For example, they have been seen picking up and eating dead dragonflies from roads.
Gallery
See also
In Spanish: Pagaza australiana para niños
