White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult breeding underwing
2018-05-07 Chui valley, Ozernoe. 2020-05-13 Bishkek, Ozernoe	© Irina Romanovskaia © Irina Romanovskaia

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits the shallow-water steppe lakes, marshy meadows, slow-current steppe rivers, abundantly covered with emergent vegetation. In spring arrives in early – mid-May in small flocks of 10-20 (rare up to 30) birds. Breeds in colonies of 10-20, up to 200 pairs, together with other birds, especially with Little Gull, but also with Black-necked Grebe or with waders. Nest is located on the dry reed heaps, tussocks or among the marsh grass; nest is built from the dry grass, at distance 1-3 m one from another. Clutch of 1-4 (usually 2-3) eggs produced in end of May - June. Flying juveniles were recorded in mid-July – early August. Autumn migration is early, most birds fly out in August.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.