Chlidonias hybrida
The Whiskered Tern is a bird of natural wetlands, being equally at home at freshwater wetlands and marshes (even farm dams!) than at estuaries and river mouths along the coast. They feed in loose flocks, flying low above the water, and catching anything from aquatic invertebrates to frogs and small fish.
Whiskered Terns breed opportunistically following good rains, establishing loose colonies of up to 80 monogamous pairs. Their nests are floating structures consisting of plant material and built by both partners. Clutches of up to 3 eggs are incubated over a 3 week period. The chicks can’t fly until they’re almost a month old, but can swim soon after hatching and uses this to good effect to temporarily abandon the nest if danger threatens, while the parents dive-bomb the intruders – even cattle and humans! Adults weigh about 100g and measure around 25cm in length.
Whiskered Terns have a very wide distribution, occurring in parts of every continent except Antarctica and the Americas., and the IUCN list it as being of least concern, estimating a total population of up to 1.5 million. In the South African summer they occur mostly on the Highveld (Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga), the midlands of Kwazulu-Natal, and along the southern coastline of the Eastern and Western Cape. The population in northern Kwazulu-Natal, centred on the iSimangaliso wetlands, is resident year-round.
DeWetsWild 
Do you know specific locations where you can sight them in Mpumalanga?.
You’re most likely to see them at the dams and natural pans on the Higveld parts of Mpumalanga, Thato – between Vaal Dam in the west, around Grootdraai Dam near Standerton and Trichardtsfontein Dam near Secunda in the middle, and in the east near places like Carolina, Hendrina, Ermelo and Chrissiesmeer where there are many open pans that usually have lots of water at this time of year.
Gorgeous!
They really have a confidence about them – like the fighter pilots in that movie!
Dis moeilik om te dink dat so ‘n klein voëltjie sommer groot diere en mense uit die lug sal aanval. Maar as ek kyk na daardie uitspreide vlerke, kan ek dink ‘n mens sal nogal skrik as hulle op jou afstorm. Jy’t pragtige foto’s hier Dries!
Baie dankie, Corna. Dit is baie indrukwekkend hoe toegewyd meeste voels aan hulle eiers en kuikens is, selfs wanneer die vyand hulle so maklik kan oordonder.
You have captured this Whiskered Tern very well in these photos!
Thank you very much, Hien
The photo of the tern’s wings stretched upright is very artistic.
I can’t take any credit for that, Petru – it’s all thanks to the model!
Timing De Wet!
These are very handsome looking birds.
They remind me of long-distance warplanes with their long wings and aerodynamic lines, Anne.
Wou ook sê soos SweetButterfly Bliss: groot vlerkspan vir so klein lyfie.
Natuurlik wonderlik wanneer hulle sulke lang afstande migreer, Ineke.
Beslis baie vaartbelynd.
The wings are magnificent!
Such an aerodynamic build they have!