The Chinese crested tern (Thalasseus bernsteini) is a rare tern in the family Laridae. It is closely related to the Sandwich tern, T. sandvicensis, and the lesser crested tern, 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.
The Chinese Crested Tern is one of the rarest birds in the world; the total population is reported to be fewer than 50 birds. It is a critically endangered species and was previously thought to be extinct.
We know very little about how these creatures behave. Adult Chinese Crested Terns carry small fish in their bills to feed them to their young. As with other terns, their flight is robust and direct.
Virtually nothing is yet known of this species‘ mating displays. That this species is so uncommon while several other species that nest on the same islands in the Matsu Archipelago seem to be flourishing adds to their mystery.
Numerous wetlands along the coast of its likely breeding range in eastern China are impacted by large-scale development projects. In China, seabirds are hunted for food, and breeding deficits in 1999 and 2002 at the Matsu tern colonies may have been caused by fishermen collecting shellfish and tern eggs on their grounds. Urban sewage and industrial pollution affect the species’ food supply as well.
References:
Candido, E. P. M. 2006. Chinese Crested Tern: observations on juveniles in the Matsu Archipelago of Taiwan. BirdingASIA 6: 34-35.
Collar, N. J. 2003. A third Philippine specimen of Chinese Crested-tern Sterna bernsteini Forktail (Journal of Oriental Ornithology) 19: 151.
del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal 1996. Handbook of Birds of the World. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
Harrison, P. 1983. Seabirds: an identification guide. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.