ExplorarAves

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.

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

Aspecto

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.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseAvesOrdenCharadriiformesFamiliaLaridaeGéneroOnychoprion

Sooty Tern

Categoría

Aves

Rareza

Common

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Snaps

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Datos interesantes

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.

Habilidades especiales

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.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 36+ cm
Envergadura: 82+ cm
Peso: 0.15+ kg
Esperanza de vida: 15+ años
Top Speed: 55 km/h
Tamaño de la puesta: 1+
Incubación: 28+ días
Distancia de migración: 40000 km

Dieta y alimentación

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

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

Alimentos principales

Flying fish
Squid
Goatfish
Lanternfish

Método de búsqueda

Pursuit

Conexiones ecológicas

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.

Rasgos

Aún no hay insignias de rasgos asignadas a este objeto.

También conocido como

Todavía no hay alias listados.

Colecciones

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Seguridad

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Todavía no hay notas especiales de seguridad.

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Cómo identificar a Sooty Tern?

La forma más fácil de identificar a Sooty Tern es usar la aplicación de identificación de naturaleza Snappit.

¿Cuál es el longitud de Sooty Tern?

36+ cm

¿Cuál es el envergadura de Sooty Tern?

82+ cm

¿Cuál es el peso de Sooty Tern?

0.15+ kg

¿Cuál es el esperanza de vida de Sooty Tern?

15+ años

¿Cuál es el top Speed de Sooty Tern?

55 km/h

¿Qué come Sooty Tern?

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

¿Dónde se encuentra normalmente Sooty Tern?

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