Snowy-crowned Tern (Sterna trudeaui)

Order: Charadriiformes | Family: Laridae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

snowy-crowned_tern
Age: Adult, alternate | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Chile

snowy-crowned_tern
Age: Adult, basic | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southern Brazil

snowy-crowned_tern
Age: Adult, basic | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southern Brazil

snowy-crowned_tern
Age: Adult, basic | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southern Brazil


Identification & Behavior: ~31.5 cm (12.4 in). The Snowy-crowned Tern is mostly white with a pale back. In basic plumage, it shows a black bill with a yellow tip. In alternate plumage, the bill is red with black in the outer end. In both plumages, the Snowy-crowned Tern shows a black stripe starting from the eye.  The black bill with a yellow tip in basic plumage is similar to that of the Sandwich Tern, but the Snowy-crowned Tern has a white head and is paler overall.

Status: The Snowy-crowned Tern is a rare Austral migrant to the coast of Peru. It also occurs in Br, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Gaviotín de Cabeza Blanca.

Sub-species: Snowy-crowned Tern (Sterna trudeaui), Audubon 1838.

Meaning of Name: Sterna: En. Stearn or starn= specific English name for a tern. trudeaui: in honor to the doctor, painter, American explorer and collector of specimens, Dr. James Berty Trudeau- (1817-1887).

See more of the Family Laridae   peru aves

Distribution Map
snowy-crowned ternVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 01/01/2015.