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Onychoprion fuscatus
Onychoprion fuscatus Linnaeus, 1766
Sooty tern
Onychoprion fuscatus
photo by Aquino, Maria Theresa

Family:  Laridae ()
Max. size:  45 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 180.0 g; max. reported age: 36 years
Environment:  pelagic; marine
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean.
Diagnosis:  Culmen: 4.53 cm; tarsus: 2.52 cm; wing: 30.5 cm.
Biology:  Total Length: 43 to 45 cm; Wingspan: 86 to 94 cm (Ref. 8812). Pelagic (Ref. 122680). Coastal and oceanic islands, and offshore (Ref. 356). In beach, shoreline and pelagic zone (Ref. 116102). Pantropic, pelagic species. Strong flyer, high over the ocean. Forms large breeding colonies on tropical and subtropical islands on sand, coral and rock, with or without vegetation. Forages in flocks (Ref. 84934). Remains 10 to 20 m above water then descends and wheels in circles before grabbing its food (Ref. 356). Feeding techniques: air dipping and contact dipping from the water surface (Refs. 356, 96995). Diet consists of squid, goatfish, flyingfish and mackerel scad (Ref. 122680). Does not plunge dive and rarely stays long in water as plumage is not waterproof. Colonies may suffer heavy losses of eggs by predatory cats (Ref. 84934).
IUCN Red List Status: (LC); Date assessed: 19 February 2020 Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

Source and more info: www.sealifebase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.



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