Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybrida

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– small tern, largest Chlidonias sp., considerably smaller than Common Black-headed Gull
– diurnal migrant (probably also nocturnal)
– migrates singly or in small to medium, loose to rather dense flocks
– occasionally mixed with other Chlidonias sp.

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, JUV
BIF3034, 08/08/2019, Polder Klotzow, Germany, Roland Neumann


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, JUV
BIF3035, 08/08/2019, Polder Klotzow, Germany, Roland Neumann


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, JUV
BIF3036, 08/08/2019, Polder Klotzow, Germany, Roland Neumann


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, JUV
BIF3037, 08/08/2019, Polder Klotzow, Germany, Roland Neumann

bif0972_mpu_ci1q8436_160621_whisktern-1-ad_mng_tsagaan-nuur
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD BREED
BIF0972, 21/06/2016, Tsaagan Nuur, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

bif0973_mpu_i8z9311_100701_whisktern-1-ad_hun_kiskunsagi
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD BREED -> NBREED
BIF0973, 01/07/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze

bif0974_mpu_i8z4566_100619_whisktern-1-ad_hun_hortobagy
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD BREED
BIF0974, 19/06/2010, Hortobágy, Hungary, Mathias Putze

bif0975_mpu_ci1q8312_160621_whisktern-1-ad_mng_tsagaan-nuur
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD BREED
BIF0975, 21/06/2016, Tsaagan Nuur, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

bif0976_mpu_ci1q8302_160621_whisktern-1-ad_mng_tsagaan-nuur
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD BREED
BIF0976, 21/06/2016, Tsaagan Nuur, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

bif0977_mpu_ci1q8301_160621_whisktern-1-ad_mng_tsagaan-nuur
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD BREED
BIF0977, 21/06/2016, Tsaagan Nuur, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

bif0978_mpu_ci1q8307_160621_whisktern-1-ad_mng_tsagaan-nuur
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD BREED
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus, AD BREED
BIF0978, 21/06/2016, Tsaagan Nuur, Mongolia, Mathias Putze

BIF497_MPU_I1Q3184_130123_whistern_thai_pak-thale
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, NBREED
BIF0497, 23/01/2013, Pak Thale, Thailand, Mathias Putze

BIF498_MPU_I1Q5256_130126_whistern_thai_pak-thale
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, NBREED
BIF0498, 26/01/2013, Pak Thale, Thailand, Mathias Putze

BIF499_MPU_I1Q3001_130122_whistern_thai_pak-thale
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, NBREED
BIF0499, 22/01/2013, Pak Thale, Thailand, Mathias Putze

BIF500_MPU_I1Q3339_130123_whistern_thai_pak-thale
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, NBREED
BIF0500, 23/01/2013, Pak Thale, Thailand, Mathias Putze


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD BREED
BIF3038, 08/08/2019, Polder Klotzow, Germany, Roland Neumann

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– like most terns a surprisingly complex vocabulary
– within calls great variability too, probably individual recognition is possible
– all calls with a distinct nasal, harsh timbre
– calls are monotone or downslurred series of very short vertical elements
– fledged juveniles seem to already have different call types too



Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
– detail –
BIF3039, 23/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
– overview –
BIF3039, 23/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
BIF3040, 22/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
– detail –
BIF3041, 22/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
– overview –
BIF3041, 22/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke



Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, 1CY AD, calls in flight
– detail –
BIF3042, 22/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, 1CY AD, calls in flight
– overview –
BIF3042, 22/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, 1CY, calls in flight
BIF3043, 22/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
– detail –
BIF3044, 23/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, AD, calls in flight
– overview –
BIF3044, 23/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
– detail –
BIF3045, 23/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, AD, calls in flight
– overview –
BIF3045, 23/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, flock of 20, 1CY AD, calls in flight
– detail –
BIF3046, 23/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke


Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, flock of 20, 1CY AD, calls in flight
– overview –
BIF3046, 23/07/2018, Große Rosin, Germany, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Eurasian Black Tern
White-winged Tern
Gull-billed Tern

#seabird #waterbird

#ornithology #birdmigration #birdID #birdguide #birding #birdwatching #birdsound #westernpalearctic #europe #vismig #flightcalls #middleeast #northernafrica #workinprogress