View allAll Photos Tagged CASPIAN
As large as a big gull, the Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world. Its large coral red bill makes it one of the most easily identified terns throughout its worldwide range.
Adult Description
•Large, gull-like tern.
•Black cap.
•Body white.
•Bill large, thick, and brilliant red with dark tip.
Immature Description
Juvenile has blackish crown, black edging to back feathers.
Cool Facts
•The oldest known wild Caspian Tern lived to be more than 26 years old. Average life span of Great Lakes Caspian Terns is estimated to be 12 years.
•The Caspian Tern aggressively defends its breeding colony. It will pursue, attack, and chase potential predatory birds, and can cause bloody wounds on the heads of people who invade the colony. The entire colony will take flight, however, when a Bald Eagle flies overhead, exposing the chicks to predation from gulls.
•The largest breeding colony in North America is off the coast of Oregon. Increasing numbers of terns at this site have caused problems with young salmon releases, some of them endangered species. Efforts are being made to move the colony to other areas, away from the fish stocking programs.
•Young Caspian Terns appear to have a difficult time learning to catch fish efficiently. They stay with their parents for long periods of time, and are fed by them even on the wintering grounds. Many young terns do not return to the nesting grounds for several years, remaining instead on the wintering areas.
Measurements
Both Sexes
Length18.5–21.3 in
47–54 cmWingspan47.2–53.1 in
120–135 cmWeight18.7–27.6 oz
530–782 g
Other Names
•Sterne Caspienne (French)
•Charrán caspia, Pagaza Piquirroja (Spanish)
Habitat
Shore-line
•Breeds in wide variety of habitats along water, such as salt marshes, barrier islands, dredge spoil islands, freshwater lake islands, and river islands.
•During migration and winter found along coastlines, large rivers and lakes. Roosts on islands and isolated spits.
Food
Almost entirely fish; occasionally crayfish and insects.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
Egg DescriptionBuff, sparingly marked with dark spots and sometimes large irregular blotches.Condition at HatchingEyes open. Covered with down and able to leave nest (usually after several days).
Nest Description
A scrape in ground. Lined often with dried vegetation, small pebbles, broken shells or other debris. May have elaborate rim of sticks. Nesting colonies occur on island beaches, often near colonies of other bird species.
Behavior
Flies over water with bill pointing down; plunges into water to catch fish.
My dear friends in Caspian brought their monstrous sound to biggest stage I've had the privilege to watch them play.
I hope I did them justice in whatever small way I could.
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans), 1st calendar year
Barneveld waste dump, The Netherlands, August 15, 2012. First-calendar year Caspian Gull.
(See also the other images of this individual taken on this date.)
Pontische Meeuw (Larus cachinnans), 1ste kalenderjaar
Barneveld vuilnisbelt, 15 augustus 2012. Eerste-kalenderjaar Pontische Meeuw.
(Zie ook de andere foto's van dit individu gemaakt op deze datum.)
I used to think MNF Ruth was the ugliest sculpt...but not anymore. This guy's got so much potential; he can range from creeper to sweetheart based on styling and angle.
I'm still so very happy I nabbed him when I did...he constantly surprises and delights me.
View in Original Size: www.flickr.com/photos/nsxbirder/51135872141/sizes/o/
CASPIAN TERN-04214591-.jpg
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans), 1st calendar year
Barneveld waste dump, The Netherlands, August 15, 2012. First-calendar year Caspian Gull, displaying aggressive behavior towards gulls nearby.
(See also the other images of this individual taken on this date.)
Pontische Meeuw (Larus cachinnans), 1ste kalenderjaar
Barneveld vuilnisbelt, 15 augustus 2012. Eerste-kalenderjaar Pontische Meeuw, aggressief gedrag vertonend naar andere meeuwen.
(Zie ook de andere foto's van dit individu gemaakt op deze datum.)
The mornings drake Smew had done one, some compensation with the near regular 4w Caspian Gull in the evening roost at Orgreave
When I was watching them, a Bald Eagle made a mess. Always like that. Bald Eagles,,(sigh)
CR Dam, Minnesota. August 16, 2014
Caspian Dessert
A special occasion dining experience can be greatly enhanced by our personalized desserts.
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia).
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri).
Franklin"s Gull (Larus pipixcan).
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge.
Grayson County, Texas. 21 May 2016.
Nikon D7200. AF-S Nikkor ED 500mm f4 D + TC-14e III teleconverter.
(700mm) f5.6 @ 1/5000 sec. ISO 500.
My dad and I went down to Evansville Airport to try and find the western kingbirds that are there this year, but we never saw them so we went to Cane Ridge WMA on our way back home. Finding and photographing this bird is sort of ironic because I literally just photoed it for the first time a few days ago in Michigan and I wished I could've counted it for my Indiana count. So now I can because we found two adults and one juvenile at Cane Ridge WMA yesterday. Gibson County, IN
This is my #211 bird species photographed in Indiana.
My dear friends in Caspian brought their monstrous sound to biggest stage I've had the privilege to watch them play.
I hope I did them justice in whatever small way I could.
Planet Earth Needs your Help. If you are interested in saving the planet for our feathered friends, wild flowers, wild animals and nature areas, as well as humankind follow the links below to articles I and my girlfriend have published. Each article explains in mostly layman terms what scientist are observing and forecasting about climate change as well as offering things an individual can do to help reduce global warming.
Latest Article
Our third article in our series on climate tipping points is on the melting of the world’s permafrost and its consequence to the planet. Here is the link. planetearthneedsyou.blogspot.com/2021/01/melting-permafro...
All Previous Articles
A Caspian Tern searches for a meal above the main marsh at Presqu'Ile Provincial Park, near Brighton, Ontario, Canada.
The Terns share the island with hundreds of Double--Crested Cormorants and lots of Gulls. The adult Terns are bringing fish back to the colony and than the search begins for their young. It is not an easy task and you will see lots of youngsters trying to mooch food, but the adults will only feed their own. In the last scene a Tern finally finds it's juvenile and feeds it. Another adult fails when a Gull steals the fish.