Back
Sterna sumatrana Raffles, 1822
| Family Name: | Laridae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Bird) |
| Common Name: | Black-naped Tern |
Name
Description
| Description | Medium-sized tern, very pale tern with thin black nape and deeply forked tail are distinctive. Bill and legs black. Bill black. |
|---|
Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | In Singapore, the Black-naped Tern frequents both in-shore and offshore waters, though it is usually found in the latter habitat and seldom journeys into inland rivers and reservoirs. It feeds by diving headlong into the sea like most Sterna terns. The Black-naped Tern nests gregariously on remote rocky outcrops where a single egg is laid with almost no nesting material. |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Found throughout Singapore waters but common only in eastern half of the Johor Straits and the waters off Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. Only one small unprotected colony, at Squance Rock, off Loyang, is currently active. The species has a tropical Indo-West Pacific distribution. Found along coasts, rocky islets and buoys in seas, seldom near Singapore. |
| Nature Areas | Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Harassment of the nesting colony. |
|---|---|
| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | Of some iconic value to Singapore, having featured on the old $1 note. Singapore's only regularly colonial nesting seabird, it was a favourite subject of the renowned bird photographer, Loke Wan Tho. |
| Conservation Notes | Estimated at between 25 and 100 birds. Recommendations should be made to preserve the Squance Rock colony as a restricted-access ternery by prohibiting boat approach and landing. This is to deter frequent disturbances at this site by errant fishermen, photographers and picnickers. Surveys of the granite rocks off Pulau Ubin in the last ten years to locate possible nest sites have not been successful. |
Status
| Species Status | Resident |
|---|---|
| Conservation Status | Uncommon |
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Endangered (EN) [2008], Vulnerable (V) [1994] |
Photos
References
| References | Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp Lim, K.S. & Gardner, D. 1997. Birds: An illustrated field guide to the birds of Singapore. Singapore: Sun Tree Publishing Limited. 226pp Ng, P.K.L. & Wee, Y.C. (Eds.). 1994. The Singapore Red Data Book (1st Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 343pp Wang, L.K. & Hails, C.J. 2007. An annotated checklist of the birds of Singapore. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement no. 15. 179pp |
|---|
