Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
The South American Tern is a graceful, medium-sized seabird with a slender build, long wings, and a deeply forked tail. Its plumage is mostly white with a pale grey back and wings, a black cap on the head, and a bright red bill and legs. Commonly seen along the coasts of Patagonia, this tern is highly social, often gathering in large colonies during the breeding season. Its agile flight and sharp calls are characteristic sights and sounds of Patagonian shores. The species is also notable for its migratory habits, moving northward after breeding. It feeds mainly on small fish, which it catches by plunge-diving into the water.
Habitat
Coastal beaches, rocky shores, islands, and estuaries throughout southern South America, especially in Patagonia.
Foraging
Feeds by plunge-diving for small fish and marine invertebrates, often in shallow coastal waters.
