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.
