EntdeckenVögel

Sooty Tern

onychoprion fuscatus

The Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) is an extraordinary pelagic seabird celebrated for its incredible lifestyle of near-continuous flight. Spending up to ten years at sea without ever touching land or swimming on the ocean surface, this highly aerial bird is a true master of the skies. It only returns to dry land to breed, forming gargantuan colonies on isolated tropical islands that are filled with deafening, constant chatter. Because their feathers lack the waterproof oils found in other seabirds, Sooty Terns must live a life aloft, sleeping on the wing and catching food mid-air. They play an important role in oceanic ecosystems, acting as indicator species for the health of pelagic fish populations.

Lebensraum: Typically found over warm, pelagic waters of tropical and subtropical oceans, nesting exclusively on remote sandy beaches, coral cays, and oceanic islands.

Aussehen

This medium-sized, elegant seabird is easily recognized by its striking contrast of jet-black upperparts and pure white underparts. It features a distinctive deeply forked tail, long narrow wings, and a prominent white patch on its forehead that contrasts sharply with its black cap and bill. Its legs and webbed feet are also entirely black. In flight, the Sooty Tern exhibits a graceful, buoyant motion, making its crisp black-and-white patterns highly visible against the blue ocean backdrop.

ReichAnimaliaStammChordataKlasseAvesOrdnungCharadriiformesFamilieLaridaeGattungOnychoprion

Sooty Tern

Kategorie

Vögel

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Because their feathers are not waterproof, Sooty Terns will waterlog and drown if they rest on the sea for too long.

Juvenile Sooty Terns leave their breeding islands and spend up to five continuous years wandering the open ocean before returning to land.

Sailors historically nicknamed them 'Wideawake Terns' due to the relentless, 24-hour screeching of their nesting colonies.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Capable of remaining airborne for several years at a time, landing only when it is time to breed.

Utilizes unihemispheric sleep to rest one half of its brain at a time while maintaining flight.

Adept at catching small fish and squid directly from the ocean surface without submerging its non-waterproof feathers.

Maße und Details

Länge: 36+ cm
Flügelspannweite: 82+ cm
Gewicht: 0.15+ kg
Lebenserwartung: 15+ Jahre
Top Speed: 55 km/h
Gelegegröße: 1+
Brutzeit: 28+ Tage
Zugstrecke: 40000 km

Ernährung und Fütterung

Feeds primarily on small schooling fish and squid that are forced to the ocean surface by large predatory marine life.

Altersunterschiede: Chicks are fed regurgitated, partially digested fish and squid brought back by parents.

Hauptnahrung

Flying fish
Squid
Goatfish
Lanternfish

Nahrungssuche

Pursuit

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

mutualism

Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares

Yellowfin Tuna drive baitfish to the surface, creating an easy feeding opportunity for the terns.

hunts

Tropical Flyingfish

Exocoetus volitans

Preys on juvenile flying fish leaping from the water surface.

eaten by

Great Frigatebird

Fregata minor

Steals freshly caught fish from adult terns and preys on vulnerable chicks in the breeding colonies.

Merkmale

Für dieses Objekt sind noch keine Merkmal-Badges vergeben.

Auch bekannt als

Noch keine Alternativnamen vorhanden.

Sammlungen

Sammlungen für dieses Objekt erscheinen hier, wenn weitere Themen hinzugefügt werden.

Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man Sooty Tern?

Der einfachste Weg, Sooty Tern zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von Sooty Tern?

36+ cm

Was ist der/die/das flügelspannweite von Sooty Tern?

82+ cm

Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Sooty Tern?

0.15+ kg

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Sooty Tern?

15+ Jahre

Was ist der/die/das top Speed von Sooty Tern?

55 km/h

Was frisst Sooty Tern?

Feeds primarily on small schooling fish and squid that are forced to the ocean surface by large predatory marine life.

Wo findet man Sooty Tern normalerweise?

Typically found over warm, pelagic waters of tropical and subtropical oceans, nesting exclusively on remote sandy beaches, coral cays, and oceanic islands.