Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata)

Family
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Skimmers)

Size
31 cm

First Described (Guide)
Cabanis, 1875

Habitat
Pelagic. Subantarctic grassland, coastal inshore waters.

Range (Guide)

French Southern Territories (B), Indian Ocean (Antarctic) (NB), South Africa (B).

Breeds in the southern Indian Ocean on the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands and Kerguelen Islands.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 3,500 - 6,500 (2010) and stable.

Status NT
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Fish and crustaceans in seaweed beds, the surf zone, and in shallow water close to shore. Also forages in terrestrial vegetation for invertebrates.

Voice
A harsh 'chittick' and long drawn out 'keeeaaar'.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files

Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata) [XC623801]
by Hichem MACHOUK from Ile Haute, France (alarm call, flight call)

Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata) [XC623835]
by id from Port-aux-Fran\u00e7ais, France (flight call)

Nest
On the ground in mossy areas, composed of stones and twigs and often lined with plant material. In colonies.

Eggs (Guide)
1 or 2. Incubation: 24 days.

Young
Fledge in 31 - 39 days.

Subspecies
Some authors have separated Crozet birds as subspecies mercuri, based on more restricted grey forehead in non-breeders and subtle soft-part distinctions.

The following 2 subspecies are recognised:

mercuri Voisin, 1971 - Crozet and Prince Edward Is.
virgata Cabanis, 1875 - Marion, Crozet, and Kerguelen islands.

Similar Species
Sympatric with Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) from which it differs by being darker, smaller with shirt wings and tail and with much shorter, weaker and spikey shaped bill.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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