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.

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

外見

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.

界Animalia門Chordata綱Aves目Charadriiformes科Laridae属Onychoprion

Sooty Tern

カテゴリ

鳥類

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

最初にスナップしよう！

おもしろい事実

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.

特殊能力

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.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 36+ cm
翼開長: 82+ cm
体重: 0.15+ kg
寿命: 15+ 年
Top Speed: 55 km/h
一度の産卵数: 1+
抱卵期間: 28+ 日
渡りの距離: 40000 km

食性と食事

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

年齢による違い: Chicks are fed regurgitated, partially digested fish and squid brought back by parents.

主な食物

Flying fish
Squid
Goatfish
Lanternfish

採餌方法

Pursuit

生態系とのつながり

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.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Sooty Ternを見分けるには？

Sooty Ternを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Sooty Ternの長さは何ですか？

36+ cm

Sooty Ternの翼開長は何ですか？

82+ cm

Sooty Ternの体重は何ですか？

0.15+ kg

Sooty Ternの寿命は何ですか？

15+ 年

Sooty Ternのtop Speedは何ですか？

55 km/h

Sooty Ternは何を食べますか？

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

Sooty Ternは通常どこに生息していますか？

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