 |
| Inca Tern |
Inca Tern | Interesting Facts About The Mustached Bird
Inca Tern is named so because this bird is found in the same range which was once ruled by the ancient Inca Empire. Apart from this, Inca Tern is one of the most beautiful species of birds found on earth. Let's know interesting facts and information about Inca Tern
Where Are Inca Tern Found
Inca Tern is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting birds on earth and this bird is found in the continent South America and countries like Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Scientific Name Of Inca Tern
The Inca Tern is one of the most beautiful bird species on earth. The scientific name of the Inca Tern is Larosterna Inca and the Inca Tern's whiskers are more than just a decoration. Moreover, their whiskers actually serve a purpose.
According to scientists, the length of their whiskers indicates the health status of the bird, which means that the longer the whiskers of a bird, the healthier it is. Apart from this, research has shown that Inca Terns with long whiskers are more attracted to each other and produce more offspring.
Habitat Of Inca Tern
The Inca Tern is known as an endemic bird to the region of the Humboldt Current. This beautiful bird prefers to breed on sandy beaches and coasts with cliffs. Apart from this, it can also be found on guano islands and offshore islands near rocky coasts. It is a diurnal gregarious bird species and the group of these birds numbers in several thousands. Apart from this, these birds do not migrate like other sea birds. Read- Jackal Animal Facts And Special Features Found In Jackal
 |
| Inca Tern |
How Do Inca Tern look Like
This bird is very beautiful and cute in appearance. Apart from this, this bird is easily recognizable by its dark brown body, red-orange beak and claws and its lovely white mustache. The body of this beautiful bird is covered with charcoal gray feathers. Both male and female birds have a bright red beak and webbed feet, along with a distinctive white mustache.
The Inca Tern is a colorful bird and is mostly gray in color. The Inca Tern is a beautiful bird and has white feathers under its wings. Its long black tail is forked, apart from this its beak and webbed feet are red in color.
What Do Inca Tern Eat
Inca Terns are fish eating birds and these birds mostly prefer anchovies but also eat other fish, plankton and crustaceans like shrimp, crayfish, crabs. This bird species chases fishing boats. Also they are brave birds that can dive below the fishing boat and catch fish.
The Inca Tern is a carnivorous bird and Inca Terns sometimes steal food from other animals. These seabirds get their food by flying over the water. When the birds spot their prey below the surface, they dive down and pounce with their sharp beaks.
Size Of Inca Tern
The average length of the Inca Tern is estimated to be between 1.28 to 1.38 feet, which means that these birds are about two and a half times the length of a regular sparrow. The males and females of these beautiful birds are similar in appearance and their length ranges from about 15.35 to 16.53 inches. Their weight ranges from 180 to 210 grams.
How Inca Terns Communicate
The voice of the Inca Tern sounds similar to that of a cat and Inca Terns live in colonies so these birds make loud noises while marking their territory. Inca Terns are sociable birds that like to live together and like to nest in huge groups or large colonies
How Fast Can Inca Tern Fly
Inca terns are skilled fliers. But their exact speed is unknown and they appear to dive from heights to hover over their prey and snatch fish pieces from whales or dolphins.
The Inca Tern is a skilled flying bird and these birds are included in the category of endangered species. This bird can be seen on the west coast of South America from Ecuador to Peru and Chile.
Inca Tern Nests
These birds have a practice of mating only once, i.e. these birds stay together for life. Apart from this, when the male bird first looks for a mate, an elaborate courtship ritual takes place. To impress the female of his choice, the male birds fly agilely and also engage in courtship by chasing the female bird while flying with a fish in his beak.
The nests of these birds are built on guano islands or sandy beaches. Inca Terns prefer deep rocky crevices where there are many cavities and rocks that can provide good protection to their nests. Apart from this, they build nests in deep pits so that the chicks can be protected from predators for a long time.
The female bird lays 1-3 eggs in the nest and the incubation period lasts for about 3-4 weeks. Both the male and female birds raise the chicks and the young chicks are brown in color. They are ready to fly on their own after 2 months and are ready to breed at the age of 2 or 3 years. This bird species breeds twice a year, first between April and July, second between October and December. Read- Why Are Sloths Slow | Incredible Facts About The Sloth
 |
| Inca Tern |
How Many Inca Tern Are There In The World
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the total number of Inca Terns in the world at present can be estimated to be a little more than 150,000. According to the IUCN Red List, the total population of these birds is more than 150,000. At present, this bird species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) and today the number of these birds is continuously decreasing.
The Inca Tern population is threatened by several factors, including overfishing by humans. People around the world love to eat anchovies and the Inca Tern depends on these small fish to survive. If humans eat all of those fish, the Inca Tern could become extinct.
How Long Do Inca Tern Live
The Inca Tern's red bill, red feet and distinctive white whiskers do not develop until the bird is 1-2 years old. The bird can live up to 14 years in the wild and up to 20 years with good care.
Behavior Of The Inca Tern
Inca terns are not known to harm humans, yet it takes a certain amount of courage to snatch food such as fish from the mouth of another animal. Inca terns can therefore be dangerous as they have been known to snatch food from the mouths of ocean dolphins and whales. Also, these birds have been known to chase fishing boats and steal food from them.
Inca Tern Facts For Kids
1. What are some interesting facts about Inca Tern?
The longer the whiskers of these birds, the healthier it is considered. Apart from this, their voice is a high pitched raspy sound which is compared to the meowing sound of a cat. These birds like to nest in rock crevices, burrows, caves and cavities.
2. Where do Inca Terns live?
These birds can be seen on beaches, coastal cliffs and rocky shores. Apart from this, Inca Terns can be seen throughout Ecuador, Chile and Peru. These beautiful birds can live up to 14 years in the wild and 20 years with good care.
3. Is the Inca a bird?
The birds are best known for their bright white whiskers, which are found on both male and female birds. This beautiful bird species lives only near the cold waters of the Humboldt Current where the birds feed on anchovies and other small fish.
4. What are the characteristics of the Inca Tern?
These birds are recognizable by their dark brown bodies, white whiskers and reddish-orange beaks and feet. These birds can be seen building their nests in suitable crevices, burrows, caves and sometimes in the old nests of Humboldt penguins.
5. What does the Inca bird symbolize?
The Inca Tern, a majestic bird of prey native to the Andes Mountains, was the most important sacred bird to the Incas and was considered a divine messenger that communicated between the spiritual worlds.
6. Who are the predators of Inca Tern?
The young birds of these birds are purple-brown in colour with black beak and legs. Gulls, owls and turkey vultures prey on these birds.
7. Do Inca Terns migrate?
This bird is a non-migratory species but after breeding some birds disperse northwards and some fly long distances.
8. How long do Inca Terns live?
The lifespan of Inca Terns is up to 14 years in the wild and can live up to 20 years with good care.
9. What do Inca Terns eat?
These seabirds like to eat anchovies, thick sculpins and silversides and Inca Terns swoop down from the air to catch small fish from the top few inches of the water. These birds rarely dive deep. Because Humboldt penguins feed at greater depths than terns, the two bird species live together. These birds also like to eat waste from fishing boats.
10. How many Inca Terns are left?
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the total number of these birds currently present in the world can be estimated to be a little more than 150,000