River tern

Sterna aurantia

Order:

Charadriiformes

Family:

Laridae

Size:

35 to 45 centimeters (14 to 18 inches)

Weight:

100 to 150 grams (3.5 to 5.3 ounces)

Taxonomy:

Sterna aurantia (Vieillot, 1817)

Short Description:

he River Tern is a medium-sized bird with a slender body, long wings, and a forked tail. It exhibits a distinctive black cap extending from its bill to the nape, contrasting with its white forehead and underparts. Its back and wings are pale gray, and during the breeding season, adults may develop a yellowish-orange coloration on their breast, giving them a vibrant appearance.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast

River Terns are widely distributed across Pakistan, inhabiting various freshwater ecosystems including the Indus River system, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands throughout the country. They are particularly abundant in regions with extensive river networks and abundant fish populations, such as the Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

River Terns are highly skilled aerial hunters, feeding primarily on fish which they catch by diving from the air into the water. They are often observed flying low over the surface of rivers and lakes, scanning for prey before executing swift and precise dives. Outside of the breeding season, they may form small flocks, congregating on sandbars or in trees along riverbanks.