The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) is a graceful and elegant seabird from the family Laridae, known for its delicate appearance, long tail streamers, and pale pinkish hue on the underparts during the breeding season. It inhabits coastal regions and islands, where it forms dense breeding colonies and is often found associating with other tern species. The Roseate Tern is a migratory bird, with populations travelling long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.

Physical Description

Size: The Roseate Tern is a medium-sized tern, measuring between 33 and 36 centimetres in length, including the long tail streamers, with a wingspan of 67 to 76 centimetres. It typically weighs between 100 and 150 grams.
Plumage:

• Breeding Plumage: During the breeding season, the Roseate Tern has pale grey upperparts and white underparts, with a slight rosy flush on the breast, which gives the bird its name. The cap is glossy black, extending from the forehead to the nape, and the long, deeply forked tail features elegant streamers that extend well beyond the wingtips. The bill is mostly black with a reddish base, and the legs are bright red.
• Non-breeding Plumage: In the non-breeding season, the bird loses the rosy flush, and the black cap becomes mottled with white. The tail streamers shorten, and the legs become darker and less vibrant.
  Legs and Bill: The legs are relatively short and bright red during the breeding season, but they become darker in the non-breeding season. The bill is slender and pointed, mostly black with a reddish base, which is more prominent during the breeding season.
  Flight: The Roseate Tern has a buoyant and graceful flight, with rapid wingbeats and gliding movements. It often hovers briefly before diving to catch prey, and its long tail streamers add to its elegant appearance.

Habitat and Distribution

Geographical Range: The Roseate Tern has a wide but fragmented distribution, with breeding populations found along the coasts of Europe, North America, the Caribbean, West Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the western Pacific. In Europe, it breeds mainly in Ireland, the UK, and France, while in North America, it is found along the Atlantic coast. During the winter, it migrates to tropical and subtropical waters, including the coasts of West Africa and the Caribbean.
Habitat: The Roseate Tern breeds on sandy or rocky islands, sandbanks, and coastal dunes, often nesting in areas with vegetation or under the cover of rocks to protect from predators. During the non-breeding season, it inhabits tropical coastal waters, lagoons, and coral reefs, where it forages for fish.

Behaviour

Diet: The Roseate Tern feeds primarily on small fish, such as sand eels, sprats, and anchovies. It catches prey by plunge-diving, often hovering briefly before making a swift, direct dive into the water. The bird may also feed on crustaceans and squid, especially in tropical waters.
Foraging: The bird often forages in flocks, sometimes with other tern species, and may follow schools of fish near the surface. It uses its sharp eyesight to spot prey from above and is known for its agile and precise diving technique.
Vocalisations: The Roseate Tern has a distinctive, high-pitched call, often described as a sharp “kree” or “kirrick.” It is less vocal than other terns but becomes more communicative during the breeding season, using calls to communicate with its mate and warn off intruders.

Social Structure

Breeding Behaviour: The Roseate Tern is a colonial breeder, often nesting in dense groups with other terns. Courtship displays include aerial chases, fish offerings from the male to the female, and synchronised flights. Mated pairs engage in mutual preening and are generally monogamous.
Nesting: The nest is a simple scrape on the ground, often lined with shells, pebbles, or vegetation. The female lays 1 to 2 eggs, which are pale with dark blotches, providing camouflage. Both parents share incubation duties, which last for about 23 to 24 days.
Chick Development: The chicks are semi-precocial, hatching with downy feathers and able to move around the nest area. They are fed by both parents and remain under their care until they fledge at about 25 to 30 days old. The young birds continue to be fed by the parents for several weeks after fledging.

Migration

Resident and Migratory Behaviour: The Roseate Tern is highly migratory, with breeding populations in temperate regions travelling long distances to tropical coastal areas for the winter. Migration typically occurs in flocks, and the birds are often seen along coastlines and over open water. They use stopover sites to rest and feed during their long journeys.

Conservation Status

The Roseate Tern is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN, with populations declining in some areas due to habitat loss, human disturbance, and predation by introduced species such as rats and cats. Climate change and rising sea levels also pose significant threats to their breeding and feeding habitats. Conservation efforts include habitat protection, the establishment of predator-free breeding islands, and international cooperation to monitor and protect migratory routes.

Similar Species

• Common Tern (Sterna hirundo): The Common Tern is slightly smaller and has a more uniformly red bill, with less elegant tail streamers. It is also more vocal and can be distinguished by its different calls.
• Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea): The Arctic Tern is similar in size but has longer migratory patterns and a fully red bill during the breeding season. It also has a more buoyant flight and a higher-pitched call compared to the Roseate Tern.

Importance and Ecological Role

The Roseate Tern plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems by helping to control fish populations and serving as an indicator species for the health of coastal and marine environments. Its presence in a region indicates a rich and diverse marine food web. The bird’s reliance on healthy fish stocks and undisturbed breeding sites makes it a focal species for marine conservation efforts.

Conclusion

The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) is a beautiful and highly specialised seabird, admired for its graceful flight and delicate appearance. Despite facing numerous threats, it continues to survive in fragmented populations, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts. Protecting its breeding and foraging habitats, as well as mitigating human impact, is essential to ensure the long-term survival of this elegant bird. The Roseate Tern remains a symbol of the delicate balance of coastal and marine ecosystems and a favourite among birdwatchers for its striking appearance and behaviour.

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