Roseate tern

The roseate tern, part of the tern family Laridae, is a striking bird known for its pink-tinged breast during the breeding season. First described by English naturalist George Montagu in 1813, this species is closely related to the white-fronted tern and the black-naped tern, with different geographical races exhibiting variations in bill color and plumage details.

This small to medium-sized tern can be confused with other species such as the common tern, Arctic tern, and Sandwich tern. However, it has a distinctive black bill with a red base, which becomes more pronounced during the breeding season. The roseate tern primarily feeds by plunge-diving for fish in the sea and occasionally engages in kleptoparasitism, stealing fish from other seabirds. They usually breed on coasts and islands, often nesting alongside other seabird species.

Conservation efforts have been crucial in protecting the declining populations of the roseate tern. Historically hunted for their plumes, these birds now face threats from increased competition and predation by larger gulls. Measures such as providing nest boxes and managing habitats have successfully boosted breeding productivity.

The roseate tern is protected under various national biodiversity action plans and international agreements like the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). In Canada, the species is listed as Threatened, while in the U.S., the northeastern population is classified as Endangered and the Caribbean population as Threatened.