| י264) שחפית אפורת-זנב | ||||||||||
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:(שחפית אפורת-זנב (סונדרס , שחפית קטנה , דומה מאוד לשחפית גמדית . נבדלת ממנה בקו גבול לבן המתמשך ממצחה מעל לעין. מקורה צהוב וקצהו שחור . חלקי גופה העליונים אפורים בהירים, בניגוד לנוצות קידמת הכנף החיצוניות, השחרחורות . רגליה בצבע צהוב-זית כהה. קצות כנפיה שחורות , בית גידולה חופי ים, שפכי נהרות ומפרצים של גאות ושפל . לאורך חופי ים סוף ועד למדגסקר . בארץ מבקרת קיץ אקראית נדירה במפרץ אילת ... ואת השחף ... ויקרא י"א, 16 | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Sterna saundersi Breeds in Red Sea, S to Somalia and off Saudi Arabia and Oman, along coasts of Persian Gulf, and locally E to NW India, Sri Lnka, and probably also on Amirantes and Seychelles. Winters from Red Sea S to Tanzania and Madagascar and India. Probably in Seychelles and Malaysian Peninsula. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
Extremely similar to S. albifrons, from which destingueshed by straight upper border to white forehead. 20-28 cm, 40-45 g, wingspan 50-55. Slightly paler grey upperparts, contrasting more with blackish outer primaries. Grey rump same color as mantle, whereas usually much paler in Little Tern. Legs and feet dusky yelow-olive, rather than orange-yellow. 4 outer primaries black, with black shafts. Habitat. Coasts, estuaries, and tidal lagoons. Rare inland. Food and Feeding. Mainly small fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Sometimes insects. Feeds mainly by plunge-diving, often preceded by long bouts of hovering. Breeding. May in India and Sri Lanka. Small, sparse colonies. Nest-site above high tide line, or on mudflats. prefers small mounds of wind-blown sand around a plant or other object. Nest is a hollow or an animal footprint, bare or lined with shall fragments and small pebbles. 2 eggs. No further information available. Movements. Movements not well understood. Non-breeding seen in Red Sea N to Gulf of Eilat, and S along E African coast to N Tanzania, as well as Madagascar and along W coast of India, also Laccadives and Maldives Is. Uncommon to very rare non-breeding visitor to S Thailand, Malay Peninsula and Malacca. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. Israel. In Israel subspecies Sterna saundersi. Straggler, irregular summer visitor at Gulf of Eilat. |
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