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Title Terns and Gulls

  • Kagoshima
Topic(s)：
$SETTINGS_DB.genreMap.get($item)
Medium/Media of Use：
Pamphlet
Text Length：
≤250 Words
FY Prepared：
2022
Associated Tourism Board：
ippanshadanhojin amamioshima kankobussanremmei
Associated Address：
14-10 Naze suehirocho, Amami-shi , Kagoshima

アジサシとカモメ


Little tern / Sternula albifrons / Ko-ajisashi / コアジサシ その名の通り、体長22～28cmの小さなアジサシは、奄美大島の砂浜で、巣作りをコロニーでしていることが初夏に見受けられる。繁殖期には頭部に黒い帽子のような模様ができ、目には黒いマスクを付けているようにみえる。体と尾は白く、翼の上部と背中は薄い灰色である。コアジサシは素早い翼の動きで速く飛び、水面近くでホバリングし、水中の魚を捕らえることができる。また、オスは魚を空中でメスにプレゼントする求愛行動が見られる。日本では絶滅危惧種に指定されている。

Roseate tern / Sterna dougallii / Beni-ajisashi / ベニアジサシ ベニアジサシはオーストラリアで越冬後、奄美大島へ繁殖のため夏季に渡り、コロニーを形成し、外敵から卵や幼鳥を守る。体長33～43cmの中型アジサシは、白や淡い灰色の体に黒い頭部が目に付く。長く、細いくちばしは脚と同様に赤く、尾は長く鋭い。ホバリングもでき、水中で獲物をしとめる際は独特の鋭角で飛び込む。獲物の鯵を刺す様子からアジサシと名付けられた。

Terns and Gulls


Little tern / Sternula albifrons / Ko-ajisashi / コアジサシ

As its name suggests, this is a small tern (22 to 28 centimeters long). It can be seen on Amami-Oshima’s sandy shores in the early summer, when it makes its nest in colonies on the ground. During breeding season, it has a black cap on the top of its head and a black “mask” over the eyes. Its body and tail are white, with a light-gray back and upper wing surface. The little tern flies fast with a quick wingbeat, and can hover before diving into the water for fish. The male signals courtship by performing an aerial display with a fish, which it then offers to the prospective mate. It has been designated an endangered species in Japan.


Roseate tern / Sterna dougallii / Beni-ajisashi / ベニアジサシ

Roseate terns migrate from wintering in Australia to Amami-Oshima for breeding in the summer, nesting in colonies to protect their eggs and fledglings from predators. The plumage of this medium-sized tern (33 to 43 centimeters long) is striking, with a largely white to pale-gray body topped by a black cap on the head. Its long, thin bill is red, as are its legs, and its tail is long and sharply forked. It can hover, and dives for fish in a distinctive and powerful angled dive. Its ability to skewer prey gives the tern its Japanese name: ajisashi, from horse mackerel (aji) spearing (sashi).

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