Little tern

    Sterna albifrons

Castilian: Charrancito común

Catalan: Xatrac menut

Gallego: Carrán pequeño

Euskera: Txenada txikia

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Charadriiformes

Family: Sternidae

Migratory status: Summer resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Near Threatened”.

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listen song

THREATS

The destruction of its habitat due to urban development along the coast is the primary threat. Other factors include riverbed regulation, which destroys river valleys and islets, the abuse of biocides, human disturbances, and depredation.

Length / size: 22-28 cm / 47-55 cm

Identification: Small tern whose forehead is white at all ages. During mating season, the adult has a pointed black hood that extends to the nape and connects the bill and the eyes with two black lines (bridles); its legs are orange, and so is its bill, but with a black tip; it has pale grey plumage on its back, with the exception of the three wing primaries, which are black; its forked tail, rump and underparts are white. Its winter plumage includes white bridles, a wider white forehead, darker legs and a black bill.

Song: In flight it makes a strident "kreeet" sound; in courtship and as an alarm call, it makes a fast "kerre-kait, kerre-kait".

Diet: It feeds on small fish, crustaceans and insects. In general, it fishes by hovering in the air at a low altitude then launching itself bill-first into the water and diving in search of its prey.

Reproduction: It breeds in monospecific colonies near water. Both adults incubate the eggs and raise the chicks. The chicks abandon the nest a few hours after being born and take refuge in protective areas.

HABITAT

During breeding season it occupies coastal and saltwater wetlands, sandy and pebbly beaches, and the banks of reservoirs, rivers and lakes. The rest of the year it prefers coastal areas like inlets, estuaries and salt marshes.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: When breeding, it is distributed in certain coastal and inland wetlands, and is most abundant in certain areas of the Mediterranean coast and south Atlantic region. It is rarer inland, but widely distributed throughout Extremadura.

In Castile and León: It only breeds in the Rosarito swamp (Ávila).

Movements and migrations: Migratory species that migrates south to spend the winter in the tropical and subtropical coasts of Africa, in Arabia and along the entire northern and northeastern coasts of Australia. In our coasts, it is abundant in migratory passages, which take place from early April to late May and from mid-August to October.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 5500-6000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: