Little Tern

Sterna albifrons (Pallas, 1764)

		adult, summer plumage
2020-05-12 Chui valley, Ozernoe.	© Irina Romanovskaia

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits the sandy, pebbly or cockle-shell shores of rivers and lakes with lack or scarce vegetation, prefers the islands near the shore. In spring appears in mid-April – May. Breeds in small colonies, of up to 50 pairs, often together with waders or Common Terns. Nest is located in shallow hole without lining or is lined with a few dry blades of grass. Clutch of 1-2 (usually 3) eggs produced in the end of May to July. Both parents incubate and feed juveniles, which hatch from the end of June. Flying juveniles were recorded from the early July. The repeated nesting after the loss of first clutch occurs often. Autumn migration begins in late July. Flies out from the breeding areas mostly in end August – early September, latest birds recorded in mid-September.

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.