Inca tern

A seabird with a moustache

The Inca tern is a seabird of refined, elegant appearance. Its plumage is a uniform dark slate grey, contrasting vividly with its bright red-orange bill and feet. Its most famous feature, however, is its 'moustache': two long, thin, curled strips of white feathers that start from the base of the bill below the eyes and curl downwards. These white moustaches are present in both sexes and are unique among seabirds.

Habitat and distribution

It lives along the Pacific coasts of South America, particularly in the cold, fish-rich waters of the Humboldt Current, off Peru, Chile and Ecuador. It frequents coastal cliffs, piers and islands, where it nests in colonies within crevices, rock cracks and cavities. It is closely tied to the abundance of fish in these waters.

Behaviour and feeding

It feeds above all on small fish, particularly anchovies, which it catches by plunge-diving into the water or fishing at the surface. It often follows shoals of fish and not infrequently keeps company with sea lions and dolphins, exploiting the prey pushed to the surface by these large predators. It flies with grace and agility over the waves.

Curiosities and conservation

It is thought that the length and quality of the white moustache are linked to the individual's state of health: longer moustaches indicate a bird in better condition, and play a role in mate choice. The Inca tern is classified as a near-threatened species: it depends on the availability of fish, which can collapse during climatic events such as El Niño, and it suffers from disturbance of its colonies. (Note: the weight value on Wikidata, 180 kg, is clearly wrong; the real weight is around 180–200 grams.)