Catching flying fish?
No it isn't a real flying fish. This Caspian Tern had caught a catfish but was having difficulty holding it. So it tossed the fish into the air so it could get a better grip. But I pressed the shutter when it looked like the tern was catching a leaping fish in mid-air.
Caspian Tern has a very wide world distribution but it is very patchily distributed within its range. It prefers to fish in freshwater lakes and has big concentrations around America's Great Lakes, plus the Black and Caspian Seas in Asia (hence the name Caspian). But it will also fish in saltwater. It is quite a rare breeder in Europe, mainly around the Baltic Sea. It is also the largest tern on the planet with a wingspan of 130-145cm and weighing 530-780g. Its large size and red bill are distinguishing features although this one's bil seems to have faded to orange, making it look a bit like a Royal Tern. It was with five other Caspian Terns at Iona Beach close to Vancouver Airport. This one's a young bird, hatched this summer but already moulted into its first winter plumage. The tail band identifies it as a young bird.
Catching flying fish?
No it isn't a real flying fish. This Caspian Tern had caught a catfish but was having difficulty holding it. So it tossed the fish into the air so it could get a better grip. But I pressed the shutter when it looked like the tern was catching a leaping fish in mid-air.
Caspian Tern has a very wide world distribution but it is very patchily distributed within its range. It prefers to fish in freshwater lakes and has big concentrations around America's Great Lakes, plus the Black and Caspian Seas in Asia (hence the name Caspian). But it will also fish in saltwater. It is quite a rare breeder in Europe, mainly around the Baltic Sea. It is also the largest tern on the planet with a wingspan of 130-145cm and weighing 530-780g. Its large size and red bill are distinguishing features although this one's bil seems to have faded to orange, making it look a bit like a Royal Tern. It was with five other Caspian Terns at Iona Beach close to Vancouver Airport. This one's a young bird, hatched this summer but already moulted into its first winter plumage. The tail band identifies it as a young bird.