Large-billed tern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Large-billed tern |
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| at Cuiaba river, Pantanal, Mato Grosso state, Brazil | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phaetusa
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| Species: |
simplex
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The large-billed tern (Phaetusa simplex) is a cool bird that lives near water. It is a type of tern, which is a seabird. You can find it in most parts of South America. It lives east of the Andes mountains and north of the Pampas grasslands.
This bird loves rivers and freshwater lakes. Sometimes, it flies far away from its usual home. It has been seen in places like Aruba, Bermuda, and the United States.
About the Large-Billed Tern
The large-billed tern is a big bird. It is about 38 centimeters (15 inches) long. It weighs between 208 and 247 grams (7.3 to 8.7 ounces).
It has a short tail and a very noticeable large yellow bill. Its head, called the crown, and the feathers covering its ears, known as ear-coverts, are black. The top part of its body is grey.
The feathers on its wings, called secondaries and primary coverts, are white. The area between its eyes and bill, called the lores, is also white. Its belly and chest are white too. This tern has yellow legs and feet. When it is not breeding, its crown and forehead look a bit lighter.
Naming the Large-Billed Tern
The large-billed tern was first officially described in 1789. A German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin gave it its first scientific name. He called it Sterna simplex.
Later, in 1832, another German scientist, Johann Georg Wagler, created a new group just for this bird. This group is called Phaetusa. This means the large-billed tern is the only species in the Phaetusa group. When a group has only one species, it is called a monotypic genus.
The name Phaetusa comes from Greek mythology. Phaetusa was a sister of Phaethon. The word simplex is Latin and means "simple" or "plain." This bird does not have any different types or subspecies.
Gallery
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Phaetusa simplex - Large-billed Tern (young).jpg Juvenile at Lagoa do Peixe National Park, Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil
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