Birdsong field guide
Inca Tern
Larosterna inca
A distinctive dark-plumaged seabird easily recognized by its elegant white facial plumes and vibrant orange-red bill and feet.
What it sounds like
A high-pitched, nasal 'mewing' sound that remarkably resembles the cry of a kitten.
Field notes
- It is the sole representative of the monotypic genus Larosterna, making it taxonomically unique among terns.
- The iconic white 'mustache' feathers are found on both sexes and serve as an honest signal of the individual's health and reproductive fitness.
- Unlike many other terns that nest in open colonies, this species breeds in crevices, caves, and abandoned Humboldt Penguin burrows.
- They are frequent commensal foragers, following sea lions and whales to scavenge small fish driven to the surface.
- The species is endemic to the Humboldt Current, a cold, nutrient-rich water system along the South American coast.
Habitat
Rocky coastal cliffs, guano islands, and sandy shorelines near productive marine upwelling zones.
Range
Pacific coast of South America, ranging from northern Peru to central Chile.
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