Sternidae
E694236
Sternidae is a family of seabirds commonly known as terns, characterized by their slender bodies, long pointed wings, and graceful, agile flight.
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
bird family
ⓘ
taxon ⓘ |
| breedingHabitat |
coastal beaches
ⓘ
islands ⓘ sandbars ⓘ |
| breedingSystem | colonial nester ⓘ |
| characteristic |
forked tail in many species
ⓘ
graceful agile flight ⓘ long narrow bill ⓘ long pointed wings ⓘ slender body ⓘ webbed feet ⓘ |
| class | Aves ⓘ |
| commonName | terns ⓘ |
| conservationIssues |
disturbance by humans and predators
ⓘ
habitat loss at breeding sites ⓘ pollution and overfishing affecting prey ⓘ |
| diet |
fish
ⓘ
marine invertebrates ⓘ |
| distinguishedFrom | Laridae NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| distinguishingFeatureFromLaridae | more slender body and longer wings than typical gulls ⓘ |
| distribution | worldwide ⓘ |
| eggColor | speckled or mottled for camouflage ⓘ |
| feedingBehavior |
plunge-diving
ⓘ
surface-dipping ⓘ |
| foragingArea |
inland water bodies
ⓘ
nearshore marine waters ⓘ |
| habitat |
coastal waters
ⓘ
estuaries ⓘ lakes ⓘ rivers ⓘ |
| isA | seabird family ⓘ |
| kingdom | Animalia ⓘ |
| largestMember | Hydroprogne caspia NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| migration | many species are long-distance migrants ⓘ |
| nestType | ground scrape ⓘ |
| notableSpecies |
Chlidonias niger
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Hydroprogne caspia NERFINISHED ⓘ Onychoprion fuscatus NERFINISHED ⓘ Sterna hirundo NERFINISHED ⓘ Thalasseus sandvicensis NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| order | Charadriiformes NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| phylum | Chordata ⓘ |
| reproductiveCare | biparental care of chicks ⓘ |
| smallestMembers | small Sterna species ⓘ |
| taxonRank | family ⓘ |
| typicalPlumage | mostly pale or white with gray or black markings ⓘ |
| vocalization |
harsh calls
ⓘ
sharp, high-pitched notes ⓘ |
Referenced by (3)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.