Common name : Sooty tern
Scientific name : Onychoprion fuscatus
Family : Laridae
Order : Charadriiformes
Lifespan : Up to 32 years
Top speed : 40 km/h (25 mph)
Weight : 150-240 g (5.3-8.5 oz)
Length : 33-36 cm (13-14 in)
Wingspan : 82-94 cm (32-37 in)

Physical description

• Plumage : The Sooty Tern is characterized by blackish plumage on the back, with a white belly. The head is also black, contrasting with the white band above each eye.
• Beak : Long, thin, and black, adapted for capturing prey in flight.
• Wings : Long and tapered, allowing for fast and agile flight.

Geographical distribution

• Found in tropical areas of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
• It breeds in isolated areas, particularly on islands such as those in the Caribbean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Habitat

• The sooty tern is a pelagic species; it spends most of its life at sea.
• Rarely lands on land, except for nesting.

Behavior

• Diet : Primarily piscivorous, feeding on fish and squid, which it catches by flying above the water and diving rapidly.
• Reproduction : Nests in colonies on isolated islands. Typically lays a single egg per season. The parents care for the chick together.
• Migration : Partially migratory, it can travel long distances between breeding and feeding grounds.

Threat and conservation

• Threats : Marine pollution, plastic ingestion, disturbance of breeding sites.
• Conservation Status : Species classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, but conservation efforts are needed for the most vulnerable colonies.