【Love Qingdao· Original】Rare animal - Chinese crested tern
The Chinese crested tern is also called the black-billed crested tern, so named because the front of the mouth is black. It is a medium-sized waterbird with a body length of 38–42 cm, inhabiting mainly coastal islands, and is one of the rarest species of birds in the gull family.
The Chinese crested tern, from the forehead through the eyes to the occipital part of the crown, as well as the crown feathers on the top of the head are black, the back, shoulders and wings coverts are pale gray, almost white, and the tail coverts and tail feathers are white. The tail feathers are deeply forked, and the lateral tail feathers gradually become pointed. The cheeks, side of the neck, the back of the neck, chin, larynx, and lower body are white.
The Chinese crested tern is the rarest of the gulls and is currently one of the most endangered bird species in the world. By 2000, there were only 6 definitive observations of them. Since there have been no reliable reports since 1937, it is thought that the species may have been extinct, but in 1978 and 1980 it was found in Hebei and Thailand, respectively, and three were seen in the yellow river estuary wetlands in 1991. Its breeding record was discovered in the Matsu Islands Tern Sanctuary in 2000, the first place in the world where it has a reproductive record. At present, there are less than 100 left in the world, and due to their scarcity, they are endangered, and they are often mixed in flocks of gull birds, which is not easy to observe, so it is also known as the "mythical bird".
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Shooting location: Chengyang West Dayang Village @ Love Photo Qingdao Qingsheng Vision (Justin with you) / photo