Sterna repressa E.Hartert, 1916

Taxonomy

The white-cheeked tern, with the scientific name Sterna repressa E.Hartert, 1916, is a tern species that belongs to the family Laridae.

Geographic Range

This species can be found along coasts ranging from the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa down to Kenya, as well as in the Persian Gulf, and along the Iranian coast extending to Pakistan and western India.

Distribution Scope

Its overall distribution covers the tropical and subtropical coasts of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean.

Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature currently lists the white-cheeked tern as a species of Least Concern.

Regional Threats

However, regional populations of this tern may encounter specific threats, including predation by invasive species and habitat degradation.

Habitat

The white-cheeked tern lives in tropical coastal areas and inshore waters.

Foraging Habits

It mainly forages over coral reefs within 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) of land.

Nesting Site Characteristics

It builds its nest as a shallow scrape, located on rock, sand, gravel or coral islands, bare and exposed sandflats, and sparsely vegetated open ground on sand-dunes and above the high-water mark on beaches.