Story: Gulls, terns and skuas

Caspian tern with egg and new chick

Caspian tern with egg and new chick

Caspian terns are the largest of the terns and have a distinctive bright-orange bill tipped with black. Their nests are unlined scrapes on sand or shingle. The chick in this egg is pipping – breaking through the shell with its egg tooth, a horny cap on top of its beak that will fall off in a day or two.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10033860
Photograph by Rod Morris

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Gulls, terns and skuas - Caspian and fairy terns', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6128/caspian-tern-with-egg-and-new-chick (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015