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White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa)

White-cheeked Tern

Sterna repressa

Least Concern

Overview

The white-cheeked tern (Sterna repressa) is a species of seabird in the family Laridae. It is generally classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although regional populations may face threats such as predation by invasive species and habitat degradation.

Habitat

This species inhabits tropical and subtropical coasts, including the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. It nests in colonies on shallow scrapes located on rock, sand, gravel, or coral islands, as well as bare sandflats and sparsely vegetated open ground above the high-water mark.

Diet

The white-cheeked tern feeds on invertebrates and small fish, foraging mainly within three kilometres of land over coral reefs.

Did you know?

On Shidvar Island, the introduction of feral cats in 2021 was associated with a significant shift in clutch size, with one-egg clutches predominating in 2022 compared to the two-egg clutches seen in 2014 and 2023.

Sources