Inca Tern

Overview

The Inca tern (Larosterna inca) is a near-threatened species of tern found along the Pacific coasts of Chile, Ecuador and Perú. As a member of the subfamily Sterninae, it is the sole member of its monotypic genus and is notably more closely related to typical Sterna terns than to some superficially similar genera.

Identification

• Adults possess a mostly dark, slate-gray body with paler underwing coverts and throat, and black, moderately forked tails.
• A distinctive white stripe extends from the bill base and fans out like a mustache using long, satiny feathers on the side of the neck.
• Features include bright to dark red bills with bare yellow skin at the base, brown irises, and dark red legs and feet.
• Calls consist of 'raucous cackling notes' and 'mewing' sounds that have been likened to those of a kitten.

Habitat

The species inhabits the Humboldt Current region, breeding from northern Perú south to the Aconcagua River near Valparaíso, Chile. It nests on sea cliffs, guano islands, manmade structures, and abandoned barges, while also gathering with other shorebirds on sandy beaches.

Diet

Feeding primarily on small fish such as anchoveta, the Inca tern also consumes planktonic crustaceans and offal. It catches prey mainly by plunge-diving, but also picks items from the surface while flying or floating, often following the feeding patterns of cormorants, sea lions, and whales.

Did you know?

Although its presence in Colombia is considered hypothetical by some authorities, escapes from captivity complicate the assessment of such extralimital records due to the species' popularity in zoos. Reproductive success is also dramatically reduced during El Niño events.