The
Black-naped tern is about 30cm long with a wing length of
21-23cm. Their beaks and legs are black, but the tips of their
bills are yellow. They have long, forked tails, and the area
extending from their heads to their necks is white, as is
the area below their chest. A black stripe stretching from
the base of their beaks to the back of their heads is connected
to their black eye stripes, which extend backward from their
mid-lores and widen at their napes. The Black-naped tern has
a white face, lower body, and tail; grayish-white back and
wings; and white wing stripes. The first couple of their primary
feathers are gray.
Behavior:
Black-naped
terns are typical sea birds and are rarely seen inland. They
feed on small fish and invertebrates from the ocean and prefer
to live on rocky cliffs, reefs, and islands located in tropical
and sub-tropical areas. When disturbed, this shy bird will
give up its nest and relocate to a new home. In mid-May, Black-naped
terns join other types of terns and depart for uninhabited
islands to breed. Males usually try to woo females with food
in order to prove themselves as good fishermen and caretakers,
and will keep a close eye on their mates to ensure that they
do not couple with other males. Black-naped terns do not nest,
but instead, lay their eggs directly on either flat areas
or in notches of rocks or reefs. Each brood contains two to
three eggs and is usually covered with camouflage, and during
the incubation period, both parents will build a wall of small
rocks around the eggs to prevent them from falling. The eggs
begin to hatch almost immediately after being laid.
Habitat:
Black-naped
terns are rare and precious migrants to the Pescadore Islands.
