Damara Tern

The Damara tern, Sternula balaenarum, is a diminutive and somewhat pale member of the tern family, Laridae. Adults in breeding attire are characterized by a striking black cap that stretches from the forehead to the nape, complemented by a very pale grey back. When observed in flight, one can discern a distinctive black triangular marking on the wing tip, which extends from the carpal joint to the wing's extremity. Outside of the breeding season, adults exhibit a white forehead and crown, with a contrasting black mask encircling the eyes and extending to the nape. The immature birds are adorned with buff bars across their mantle.

Identification Tips

To identify the Damara tern, look for its small stature, measuring approximately 23 centimeters or 9.1 inches in length. The breeding plumage with its black cap and pale grey back is quite distinctive, as is the black triangular wing tip visible in flight. During the non-breeding season, note the white on the forehead and the black eye mask.

Habitat

This species shows a preference for arid, desert shorelines, particularly favoring sheltered bays, estuaries, lagoons, and reefs. For breeding, it selects gravel plains nestled between dunes and on salt pans.

Distribution

The Damara tern breeds along the western coastal regions of Southern Africa, from the Eastern Cape through to Angola, with a significant majority of the population nesting in Namibia. When not breeding, these birds migrate northward to tropical African coasts, reaching as far as Benin and Togo.

Behaviour

The Damara tern is known for its diet of small fish and occasional squid, which it captures through adept plunge dives from heights of 3-8 meters. Its migration is synchronized with the spawning of small fish in the shallow coastal waters of the Gulf of Guinea. During winter, these birds roost communally but feed individually, maintaining a distance of 10-50 meters from one another.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the Damara tern include a high-pitched, sharp "tsit tsit" and a quick, harsh "kid-ick."

Breeding

Breeding involves laying eggs in a simple scrape in the ground, sometimes lined with shell chips or small stones. Typically, the clutch consists of one, occasionally two eggs, with an incubation period of 18–22 days. The female broods the chicks in the initial days post-hatching, while the male provides food. Chicks vacate the scrape within days, heading towards the shore, and fledge after 20 days, subsequently forming juvenile flocks. They remain dependent on the adults for a further two and a half months.

Diet and Feeding

The Damara tern primarily feeds on small fish and occasionally squid, which it adeptly catches with repeated plunge dives.

Conservation status

The Damara tern is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.