Flickriver

Inca Tern at Living Coasts, Torquay, Devon

Inca Tern at Living Coasts, Torquay, Devon

            The Inca tern (Larosterna inca) is found along the coasts of Peru and Chile around rocky cliff tops.

It feeds on small fish such as anchovies. Inca terns are plunge-divers, hovering over water at around 15cm before diving on prey and emerging almost immediately. They are thought of as scavenger birds as they are reported to steal scraps of food from the mouths of seals.

They have a loud cackling call. The Inca tern is not great at swimming as they have large wings and small feet but they are excellent fliers.

Nests are built in sheltered places on rocky cliffs such as holes and crevices. They will sometimes use old nests of Humboldt penguins. They lay 1-2 eggs which are incubated for around four weeks. Chicks fledge after seven weeks. Courtship is noisy and includes pairs bowing to each other while cackling and aerial displays by the male with gifts.

Inca terns will not develop their red legs, red beak and white moustaches until they are 1-2 years old.

In the wild, Inca terns are on the “near threatened” list - the main threats include guano harvesting and lack of nesting substrate.

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Torquay (show map)

Taken on: June 20, 2014

Tags:

Devon

Torquay

Birds

Terns

Inca Tern

Animals

Wildlife

Zoos

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Camera: Pentax Optio S5i, f/4.8, 1/80 sec, 17.4mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Pentax Optio S5i
Aperture:	f/4.8
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Focal Length:	17.4mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Microsoft Windows Live Photo Gallery14.0.8081.709
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