10

White-cheeked Tern

(Sterna repressa)
Size: 33 cm

Sightings

We have first spotted White-cheeked Terns in the region around Sur, east of Muscat, in May 2010.

Photos

Frontal view of White-cheeked Terns in May (the bird on the left raising its head), seen together with Lesser Crested Terns (orange bills) and a taller Crested Tern in the background, with its yellow bill

Lateral view of White-cheeked Terns in May

White-cheeked Terns in May, partly seen from behind

White-cheeked Tern in flight

In this photo several species of terns are shown. The second bird from the right and from the left are White-cheeked Terns. Those with orange bills are all Lesser Crested Terns. The two taller birds on the right with dark bills are Sandwich Terns

Here a White-cheeked Tern (right) together with a few Crested Terns (centre) and a Sandwich Tern on the left

Food

Like all terns, White-cheeked Terns feed on fish, which they catch with their bills just under the surface of water in a steep high-speed dive from considerable height.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.