Inca Tern: The Magnificent Moustache Bird



Birds are beautiful creations of God, enticing human beings by vibrant colors. Every bird is special because of diverse attractions, colors, calls, tails, etc. Here we’re introducing you a unique bird which has Moustache. The bird name is Inca Tern with splendid Moustache might be the one with dark grey plumaged Inca tern of the family Sternidae that sports the most splendid whiskers. The Moustache bird is a seabird is the only member of the genus Larosterna.

The Bougainville Moustached kingfisher features a pair of attractive Dali-like white handlebar moustache of specialized feathers that grow out from the fleshy yellow gape at the corners of its dazzling red beak. The interesting point is that, the dashing moustache is not male oriented also shared by females as well. The exclusive bird tends to breed along the west coast of South America from northern Peru to central Chile. This was the region once ruled by the valiant Inca Empire which gives the species its name. It's a gregarious species, nesting in colonies of quite a lot of thousand birds elaborate courtship includes a "high flight" with the male nippily ascending to several hundred feet, pursued by the female bird. Hence, they often return to the same nest site for several years in a row, and both parents incubate and care for the chicks.

However, a strange ornament and matter of pride the bird’s moustache length is reliable signal of its body condition. The longer moustache refers to healthier the birds. Thus, the longer moustaches tend to mate together and have more and larger chicks. Moreover, the cold nutrient-rich Humboldt Existing flows just off-shore, carrying with it swarms of small ocean fish such as anchovies which the bird feeds on. The Inca Tern spots its prey from the air, and then dives into the water to grab foods with its pointed beak. The majestically beautiful birds also scavenge scraps from sea lions, dolphins, and fishing boats, but small fishes are its main diet.

Therefore, decline of anchovy stocks due to commercial fishing and too much guano harvesting finishes breeding ground has led to major drop in population of the Inca tern. However, the bird was in great numbers in the millions, however, due to above facts, the existing population assessment is just over 150,000 birds, and the endanger species is now listed as near threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Though fishing for anchovies has been banned in Peru, and guano harvesting is also regulated, but natural factors such as recurring cyclones and predators such as rats and cats on some islands can also prevent nesting or decrease breeding success.










Unique Andean Chocó

Jewel of the forest: At ‪‎Tanagers‬ Reserve in Colombia, unique Andean Chocó rainforest shelters not just rare tanagers but more than 250 other ‪#‎bird‬ species, including the gem-colored Velvet-purple Coronet, a species of ‪ ‎hummingbird‬.

Greater Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) in Uganda by Frederic Pelsy.


Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) in the USA by Hazel Erikson


Andean Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis) on a rainy day in Colombia by Priscilla Burcher.


Birds-of-Paradise Project Introduction

The Birds-of-Paradise Project reveals the astounding beauty of 39 of the most exquisitely specialized animals on earth. After 8 years and 18 expeditions to New Guinea, Australia, and nearby islands, Cornell Lab scientist Ed Scholes and National Geographic photojournalist Tim Laman succeeded in capturing images of all 39 species in the bird-of-paradise family for the first time ever. This trailer gives a sense of their monumental undertaking and the spectacular footage that resulted. Filmed by Tim Laman, Ed Scholes, and Eric Liner.

The Blue Finch or Yellow-billed Blue Finch

The Blue Finch or Yellow-billed Blue Finch (Porphyrospiza caerulescens) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae (tanager-family). Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, a recent study has shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia and Brazil. Its natural habitat is dry savanna (cerrado). It is becoming rare due to habitat loss. Photo: Peter van Zoest.

Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) in West-Papua New Guinea

Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) in West-Papua New Guinea by Lars Petersson.

Reed Warbler Feeding a Common Cuckoo Chick

Reed Warbler feeding a Common Cuckoo chick by Per Harald Olsen. Some species of birds thrive not by carefully rearing their own young, but by pawning that task off on adults of other species. This is called Brood Parasitism.

The Great Tit (Parus major)

The Great Tit (Parus major) is a widespread and common species throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Asia, and parts of North Africa. Photo: Pleskonics Ferenc.

Narcondam Hornbill

Narcondam Hornbill (Rhyticeros narcondami) by Niranjan Sant. This hornbill is endemic to the Indian island of Narcondam in the Andamans. The island is small, covering an area of approximately 6.8 square kilometres (2.6 square miles), so this hornbill has the smallest home range out of all the species of Asian hornbills.