Not to be confused with the white tern (Gygis alba), also known as the fairy tern.
The fairy tern (Sternula nereis) is a small tern which is native to the southwestern Pacific. It is listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN and the New Zealand subspecies is "Critically Endangered".
The fairy tern is a small tern with a white body and light bluish-grey wings.A small black patch extends no further than the eye and not as far as the bill. In the breeding plumage both the beak and the legs are yellowish-orange. During the rest of the year the black crown is lost, being mostly replaced by white feathers, and the beak becomes black at the tip and the base. The sexes look alike and the plumage of immature birds is similar to the non-breeding plumage. The total length of the fairy tern is about 25 cm (10 in).[2]
Behaviour
The fairy tern mainly feeds on fish which it catches by hovering over the sea before plunging beak first into the water to grab its prey. It seldom goes far out to sea but is often to be seen where predatory fish are feeding on shoals of small fish. It also consumes crustaceans, molluscs and some plant material.[2]
Breeding takes place in the spring in colonies on sheltered beaches on the mainland or on offshore islands. The nest is just above high-water mark and is a scrape in the sand. One or two eggs are laid and both parents share the incubation and care of the chicks and have occasionally been seen providing post-fledging parental care.[3]
Status
Formerly classified as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN,[3] recent research shows that its numbers have been decreasing rapidly throughout its range; the New Zealand subspecies has been on the brink of extinction for decades. The fairy tern was consequently uplisted to Vulnerable status in 2008.[3] The New Zealand fairy tern has numerous breeding areas, largely incorporating the upper-north region of the North Island. In 2011, there were only about 42 known individuals. With a breeding program in place by the New Zealand Department of Conservation, the population was estimated in 2020 at 40.[4]
References
^BirdLife International (2018). "Sternula nereis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22694691A132568135. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22694691A132568135.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ ab"Fairy Tern: Sterna nereis". Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
^"Rarest bird in the country gets a helping hand". 23 August 2018.
Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine, Last Chance to See (Ballantine Books, 1992, ISBN0-345-37198-4)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sternula nereis.
Wikispecies has information related to Sternula nereis.
BirdLife Species Factsheet
January 20, 2023
fairy, tern, confused, with, white, tern, gygis, alba, also, known, fairy, tern, fairy, tern, sternula, nereis, small, tern, which, native, southwestern, pacific, listed, vulnerable, iucn, zealand, subspecies, critically, endangered, conservation, statusvulner. Not to be confused with the white tern Gygis alba also known as the fairy tern The fairy tern Sternula nereis is a small tern which is native to the southwestern Pacific It is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and the New Zealand subspecies is Critically Endangered Fairy ternConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder CharadriiformesFamily LaridaeGenus SternulaSpecies S nereisBinomial nameSternula nereis Gould 1843 SubspeciesSternula nereis davisaeSternula nereis exsulSternula nereis nereisSynonymsSterna nereisThere are three subspecies Australian fairy tern Sternula nereis nereis Gould 1843 breeds in Australia New Caledonian fairy tern Sternula nereis exsul Mathews 1912 breeds in New Caledonia New Zealand fairy tern Sternula nereis davisae Mathews amp Iredale 1913 breeds in northern New ZealandContents 1 Description 2 Behaviour 3 Status 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditThe fairy tern is a small tern with a white body and light bluish grey wings A small black patch extends no further than the eye and not as far as the bill In the breeding plumage both the beak and the legs are yellowish orange During the rest of the year the black crown is lost being mostly replaced by white feathers and the beak becomes black at the tip and the base The sexes look alike and the plumage of immature birds is similar to the non breeding plumage The total length of the fairy tern is about 25 cm 10 in 2 Behaviour EditThe fairy tern mainly feeds on fish which it catches by hovering over the sea before plunging beak first into the water to grab its prey It seldom goes far out to sea but is often to be seen where predatory fish are feeding on shoals of small fish It also consumes crustaceans molluscs and some plant material 2 Breeding takes place in the spring in colonies on sheltered beaches on the mainland or on offshore islands The nest is just above high water mark and is a scrape in the sand One or two eggs are laid and both parents share the incubation and care of the chicks and have occasionally been seen providing post fledging parental care 3 Status EditFormerly classified as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN 3 recent research shows that its numbers have been decreasing rapidly throughout its range the New Zealand subspecies has been on the brink of extinction for decades The fairy tern was consequently uplisted to Vulnerable status in 2008 3 The New Zealand fairy tern has numerous breeding areas largely incorporating the upper north region of the North Island In 2011 there were only about 42 known individuals With a breeding program in place by the New Zealand Department of Conservation the population was estimated in 2020 at 40 4 References Edit BirdLife International 2018 Sternula nereis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22694691A132568135 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22694691A132568135 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b Fairy Tern Sterna nereis Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Retrieved 2013 12 17 a b c Species factsheet Sterna nereis BirdLife International Retrieved 2013 12 17 Rarest bird in the country gets a helping hand 23 August 2018 Douglas Adams amp Mark Carwardine Last Chance to See Ballantine Books 1992 ISBN 0 345 37198 4 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sternula nereis Wikispecies has information related to Sternula nereis BirdLife Species Factsheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fairy tern amp oldid 1112814626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
