Family:
Cabot’s tern closely resembles the sandwich tern and was only recently recognised as a separate species, having previously been classified as a subspecies.
Its upperparts are mostly white, with a pale grey back and darker primaries tipped with white. The underparts are also white, sometimes showing a subtle rosy flush. The head has a black cap extending to the nape, and a shaggy black crest. It has a black bill with a yellow tip, which is shorter and stouter than that of the sandwich tern. The eyes are dark brown or black, while the legs and feet are black. Males and females are identical in appearance.
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Cabot’s tern primarily feeds on fish, with smaller amounts of squid, shrimp, and insects also included in its diet. It hunts by plunge-diving from a height of around 7 metres above the water.
Cabot’s tern is found along the coasts of the eastern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of South America. Preferring warm coastal waters, it breeds on barrier beaches, sandy islands, and dredge-spoil islands. Northern populations migrate south for the winter, settling on sandy beaches, sandbars, coastal reefs, and river estuaries that flow into salt water.
