Greater Crested Tern
GREATER CRESTED TERN
Sterna bergii
Family Sternidae
Resident- Fairly Common
Length 17" (430mm) Wingspan 40" (1050mm)
Bird # 316 - May 2011
This is called Great Crested Tern in the Kennedy guide. Greater Crested Terns are found all over the Philippines. They are resident birds. They have a very distinctive shaggy black crest on a white forehead. They have white throats and chests, long yellow bill, and black legs and feet. Their wings and tails are grey. They are big terns at 17" long compared to the 10' of the Whiskered Tern. They nest on the ground in large colonies. Their nests are simple, shallow scrapes on the ground. When they are not sitting on their eggs, the eggs look as if they were scattered on the ground for an Easter egg hunt. Most terns usually mate for life.
We tried our best not to disturb the birds when taking these pictures because they were incubating their eggs. We took the pictures with eggs during the bird survey.
We got to photograph a few more individuals in September 2012 in Narra Palawan. They were not in breeding plumage and there were some immature birds flying with the group.
Read MoreSterna bergii
Family Sternidae
Resident- Fairly Common
Length 17" (430mm) Wingspan 40" (1050mm)
Bird # 316 - May 2011
This is called Great Crested Tern in the Kennedy guide. Greater Crested Terns are found all over the Philippines. They are resident birds. They have a very distinctive shaggy black crest on a white forehead. They have white throats and chests, long yellow bill, and black legs and feet. Their wings and tails are grey. They are big terns at 17" long compared to the 10' of the Whiskered Tern. They nest on the ground in large colonies. Their nests are simple, shallow scrapes on the ground. When they are not sitting on their eggs, the eggs look as if they were scattered on the ground for an Easter egg hunt. Most terns usually mate for life.
We tried our best not to disturb the birds when taking these pictures because they were incubating their eggs. We took the pictures with eggs during the bird survey.
We got to photograph a few more individuals in September 2012 in Narra Palawan. They were not in breeding plumage and there were some immature birds flying with the group.
GREAT CRESTED TERN Sterna bergii Tubbataha Reef, Sulu Sea, Philippines This picture shows why Tubbataha is off limits and is under the protection of the rangers. The birds and the eggs don't have any protection but isolation. We took these shots during the bird census.
great crested ternternbirdsterna bergiitubbataha reefsulu seaphilippinestonjisylviamay 2011wwfresident
