Latest evidence of the existence of the northern flock of the Chinese Crested Tern (Sterna bernsteini)

Three Chinese Crested Terns (Sterna bernsteini) were seen stopping at the Golden Coast of Rizhao (city), southern Shandong Province, China, on 6 September 2011. This is the third record of the bird appearing in northern China since 2004 and it contributes the latest evidence of the existence of the northern flock of the Chinese Crested Tern.

The photos attached here have well illustrated the plumage, particularly the pattern of its head, of the Chinese Crested Tern in the post-breeding season.

Jiang et al. (2010) suggested that those Chinese Crested Terns far known occurring along the Chinese coast might properly be treated being of three flocks – 1) the (Taiwan) Straits flock, 2) the (Greater) Zhoushan (Archipelago) flock, and 3) the northern (Chinese coast) flock.

And, it is quite interesting to notice that the three CCT records as far reported in the last decade years from the northern flock appearing almost on the same day, that is, on 5 September 2004 on Chongming Island, on 5 September 2008 at the Dagong coast, and this time on 6 September. Hence, more attentions should be paid in early September for further seeking efforts.

  Photos.  (1)–(4) Chinese Crested Terns (Sterna bernsteini) at the Golden Coast of Rizhao (city), southern Shandong Province, China, illustrating their plumage in the post-breeding season

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