Common Terns in Western Asia

The western part of the distribution area of the eastern Asian subspecies of Common Tern, longipennis, is not well known. Below some photos of (presumed breeding) Common Terns from Western Asia, south to north. The birds from Central Asia are not that different from the birds in Northern Europe, but in Labytnangi they have quite extensively black bill. Underparts seem still to be paler than typical longipennis. Labytnangi is on the western bank of river Ob, close to Salekhard and the mouth of the river. There were about 100 Common Terns in the area.

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16 July 2005 Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan

18 July 2005 southern shore of Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan

23 July 2005 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

27 May 2008 Topar Lakes, Almaty province, Kazakstan

23 May 2008 close to Sugaty Valley, Almaty province, Kazakstan

7 June 2008 Astana, Kazakstan

4 June 2007 Chelyabinsk, Russia

6 June 2008 Chelyabinsk, Russia

28 June 2006 Labytnangi, Yamalo-Nenets, Russia

28 June 2006 Labytnangi, Yamalo-Nenets, Russia

28 June 2006 Labytnangi, Yamalo-Nenets, Russia

28 June 2006 Labytnangi, Yamalo-Nenets, Russia

28 June 2006 Labytnangi, Yamalo-Nenets, Russia

28 June 2006 Labytnangi, Yamalo-Nenets, Russia

28 June 2006 Labytnangi, Yamalo-Nenets, Russia