Inca Tern

Appearance:

These blue-gray birds have unique, white, feathery tufts extending from their face. Their primary wing feathers are edged in white. They have red legs, red feet, a red beak and a yellow wattle. Despite webbing, the tern's feet are too small to be effective for swimming.

Size:

• Length: 16 inches
• Weight: 3-4 ounces

Diet:

Inca terns live on a diet of mostly fish and crustaceans, primarily minnows, squid and shrimp. They will also scavenge from fishing vessels. It's been documented that terns will pluck fish pieces from between the teeth of sea lions.

Reproduction:

Inca tern breeding season lasts throughout the year, during which pairs nest in crevices and on cliffs. Often, they will take over nests of Humboldt penguins and other cliff-dwelling seabirds. Incubation lasts for four weeks, and eggs are brown with black speckles, providing camouflage in the rocky nest. Both parents feed their one or two young. Chicks fledge after about seven weeks.

Behavior:

These gregarious birds are often found roosting in large colonies as protection from predators. In fact, an entire tern colony may attack a predator as a group. Though poor swimmers,  terns are agile flyers, swooping and hovering before diving after prey.

Median Life Expectancy:

Up to 18 years

Habitat/Range:

Mainly coastal areas of South America from Ecuador to Chile.