The Indian river tern or just river tern (Sterna aurantia) is a tern in the family Laridae. It is a resident breeder along inland rivers from Iran east into the Indian Subcontinent and further to Myanmar to Thailand, where it is uncommon. Unlike most Sterna terns, it is almost exclusively found on freshwater, rarely venturing even to tidal creeks.
This species breeds from March to May in colonies in less accessible areas such as sandbanks in rivers. It nests in a ground scrape, often on bare rock or sand, and lays three greenish-grey to buff eggs, which are blotched and streaked with brown.
This is a medium-sized tern, 38–43 cm long with dark grey upperparts, white underparts, a forked tail with long flexible streamers, and long pointed wings. The bill is yellow and the legs red. It has a black cap in breeding plumage. In the winter the cap is greyish white, flecked and streaked with black, there is a dark mask through the eye, and the tip of the bill becomes dusky. The sexes are similar but juveniles have a brown head, brown-marked grey upperparts, grey breast sides and white underparts. The bill is yellowish with a dark tip
Catching a fish on the wing.
As with other Sterna terns, the river tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, crustaceans, tadpoles and aquatic insects in rivers, lakes, and tanks. Its numbers are decreasing due to the pollution of their habitat.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2020). "Sterna aurantia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22694537A180171504. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22694537A180171504.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp'Seabirds: An Identification Guide by Harrison, Peter ISBN0-7470-1410-8
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sterna aurantia.
river, tern, river, shropshire, england, river, tern, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, c. For the river in Shropshire England see River Tern This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message The Indian river tern or just river tern Sterna aurantia is a tern in the family Laridae It is a resident breeder along inland rivers from Iran east into the Indian Subcontinent and further to Myanmar to Thailand where it is uncommon Unlike most Sterna terns it is almost exclusively found on freshwater rarely venturing even to tidal creeks River tern Chambal River India Conservation status Vulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Charadriiformes Family Laridae Genus Sterna Species S aurantia Binomial name Sterna aurantiaGray JE 1831 Immature Adult in flight Kabini Karnataka This species breeds from March to May in colonies in less accessible areas such as sandbanks in rivers It nests in a ground scrape often on bare rock or sand and lays three greenish grey to buff eggs which are blotched and streaked with brown This is a medium sized tern 38 43 cm long with dark grey upperparts white underparts a forked tail with long flexible streamers and long pointed wings The bill is yellow and the legs red It has a black cap in breeding plumage In the winter the cap is greyish white flecked and streaked with black there is a dark mask through the eye and the tip of the bill becomes dusky The sexes are similar but juveniles have a brown head brown marked grey upperparts grey breast sides and white underparts The bill is yellowish with a dark tip Catching a fish on the wing As with other Sterna terns the river tern feeds by plunge diving for fish crustaceans tadpoles and aquatic insects in rivers lakes and tanks Its numbers are decreasing due to the pollution of their habitat References edit BirdLife International 2020 Sterna aurantia IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T22694537A180171504 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 3 RLTS T22694537A180171504 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 Birds of India by Grimmett Inskipp and Inskipp Seabirds An Identification Guideby Harrison Peter ISBN 0 7470 1410 8External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sterna aurantia A documentary on the life of River Terns by Amoghavarsha JS Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title River tern amp oldid 1212699163, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
