World's strangest animals (birds): Charrán inca/ Bird with mustache

oscarcede (64)in #steempress • 5 years ago (edited)

Inca terns A strange name for a bird, right? However, it is fully justified: the natural scope of this coincided with the limits of the ancient Inca Empire, the Tavantinsuyu, which flourished in the 11th-16th centuries.

SourceThe Inca tern, also known as the zarcillo or tern nun, is a species of Charadriiforme bird of the Sternidae family. It is a seabird that lives in South America. It is found on the coasts of Peru and Chile. It is the only species of the genus Larosterna..

Inca tern (Larosterna inca) is a medium-sized bird of the tern family that lives in the temperate latitudes of the Pacific coast of South America. It is the only one, and therefore only representative of the genus Larosterna.

This bird has an average size: body length - 39-42 cm, weight - approximately 190 grams. The wings are quite long and wide, their wingspan is noticeably higher than average, so the flying Inca airplane is not difficult to mistake for a large bird.

SourceThe Inca tern is, perhaps, the only bird capable of boasting of a mustache, and it is not simple, but a luxurious curly white mustache. Of course, this is not a mustache in the usual sense of the word, but white feathers are famously twisted and very expressive, but that's what people call them.

The plumage has a beautiful ash gray shine. The head at the base of the beak and tail are painted in a contrasting black carbon color, sometimes with a blue tinge. The edges of the feathers are white, which is especially noticeable on the wings. The beak and legs are bright red, sometimes burn red, sometimes dull orange.

SourceThe main and only source of food is the cold Peruvian current, which is very rich in fish. Not wanting to look out and dive after the prey, many terns go to the trick: they chase the fishing trawlers to capture the remains of their catch or follow the flocks of sea lions, whales and easily catch the fish they have scared.

SourceThe basis of the diet are the fish fines and several crustaceans. The tern feed on the cold waters and rich in fish of the Peruvian current. Voluntarily picks up the remains of the catch to catch trawlers or follows the marine animals, periodically stealing their trophies. Especially sea lions without sugar. They are attacked simultaneously by a whole flock of terns, trying to snatch the catch directly from the mouth.

During the mating season, the male tries to obtain the location of his future spouse with the help of complex acrobatic pirouettes in the air. To win his heart, he presents him as a gift a fish in his beak.

SourceThe resulting married couple finds a hole in the thickness of the guano or uses the holes of other animals. Often, the terns build a nest in caves or cracks in rocks, in extreme cases they settle for a hole under the stone. In the future, the couple nests in the same place for several years in a row.

The female lays 1-3 eggs, which alternate incubating both spouses. Incubation lasts 3 to 4 weeks. Chick hatch covered from soft down. They are very energetic and grow quickly.

A week after birth, babies begin to master the water element. At the age of 1.5-2 months, they become independent and leave the paternal nest forever. The terns mature sexually next spring.