White-cheeked Tern

The White-cheeked Tern, Sterna repressa, is a graceful seabird belonging to the family Laridae. It is characterized by its sleek body, sharp wings, and a delicate forked tail. The bird's plumage is predominantly grey and white, with distinctive white cheeks that give rise to its common name.

Behaviour

White-cheeked Terns are known for their migratory habits, with many traveling vast distances, although some populations in East Africa may be resident year-round. They breed in colonies ranging from 10 to 200 pairs, often sharing these colonies with other tern species. The social nature of these birds is evident during the breeding season, where they engage in communal nesting and foraging activities.

Habitat

This species is typically found along tropical coasts and inshore waters. They are often seen foraging over coral reefs and prefer to nest on bare and exposed sandflats, rock, sand, gravel, or coral islands. They also utilize sparsely vegetated open ground on sand-dunes and above the high-water mark on beaches for nesting purposes.

Distribution

The White-cheeked Tern has a geographical range that includes the coasts of the Red Sea, around the Horn of Africa to Kenya, the Persian Gulf, and along the Iranian coast extending to Pakistan and western India.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the White-cheeked Tern primarily consists of invertebrates and small fish. They are adept at plucking their prey from the water's surface while in flight, showcasing their remarkable agility and precision.

Conservation status

The White-cheeked Tern is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This indicates that, at present, there are no immediate threats to the population levels of this species warranting a higher level of concern.