The Chinese crested tern (''Thalasseus bernsteini'') is a
tern in the family
Laridae. It is the county bird of
Lienchiang County,
Fuchien.
Description
It is closely related to the
Sandwich tern
The Sandwich tern (''Thalasseus sandvicensis'') is a tern in the family Laridae. It is very closely related to the lesser crested tern (''T. bengalensis''), Chinese crested tern (''T. bernsteini''), Cabot's tern (''T. acuflavidus''), and ele ...
, ''T. sandvicensis'', and the
lesser crested tern
The lesser crested tern (''Thalasseus bengalensis'')Bridge, E. S.; Jones, A. W. & Baker, A. J. (2005)A phylogenetic framework for the terns (Sternini) inferred from mtDNA sequences: implications for taxonomy and plumage evolution. ''Molecular Ph ...
, ''T. bengalensis''. It is most similar to the former, differing only in the bill pattern, which is the reverse of the Sandwich tern's, being yellow with a black tip. From the lesser crested tern, which it overlaps in wintering distribution, it can be told by the white rump and paler grey mantle, as well as the black tip to the bill, which seen from up close also has a white point. The larger
greater crested tern is also similar, differing in its stouter, all-yellow bill and darker grey mantle and rump, as well as in size.
Distribution and conservation
It is a
critically endangered species, and previously thought extinct. Only four pairs were rediscovered in 2000 nesting in a
greater crested tern colony on an islet in the
Matsu Islands (a territory governed by Taiwan), just off the coast of
Fujian Province
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its ...
, China, and wintering south to the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. In the past, it had a wider distribution of the
Chinese east coast north to
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in His ...
Province. The decline is thought to be due to past hunting and egg collection for food. This colony may have been protected due to the islands' disputed status (administered by the Taiwanese government but claimed by
mainland China
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the China, People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming Island, Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territorie ...
), and the military sensitivity of the area, which has restricted access. The islet has now been declared a
wildlife sanctuary. It is possible that other small colonies may yet be found off the Chinese and Taiwanese coasts; migrant birds have been seen near the mouth of the
Pachang River
The Bazhang River, also spelled Pachang River, () is a river in Taiwan. It flows through Chiayi City, Chiayi County and Tainan City for 81 km.
History
On July 22, 2000, the Bazhang River experienced extreme flooding. Four workers on a r ...
in southern Taiwan. The total population is speculated to be less than 50 birds.
In 2007 it was estimated that the Chinese crested tern would be
extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
in five years if authorities would not protect it.
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...
of
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...
, England, stated that a survey of Chinese experts found that the number of crested terns fell to 50 birds, half the population of 2004. A Chinese survey team led by Chen Shuihua stated that the bird was "on the verge of extinction."
It is currently threatened by illegal egg collection, typhoons, and disturbance of nesting colonies by fishermen. There is also a threat of hybridization with the greater crested tern.
In 2016, for the first time, Chinese crested terns were found breeding in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
. Setting up a new colony in such a faraway area would prove a boon for the species.
References
* Bridge, E. S.; Jones, A. W. & Baker, A. J. (2005): A phylogenetic framework for the terns (Sternini) inferred from mtDNA sequences: implications for taxonomy and plumage evolution. ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 35: 459–469
PDF fulltext
External links
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040529020017/http://www.matzu-nsa.gov.tw/english/discover06.asp Matsu Islands information]
Oriental Bird Club - rediscovery of Chinese Crested Tern (with photo)*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q430191
Thalasseus
Birds described in 1863