Caspian Tern behavior

[CaraRose]

I saw a lot of instances where terns were returning with fish that they promptly would pass to another tern. Would they still be feeding last year's offspring? The behavior of the birds when the one with the fish would land reminded me of begging fledglings.

I figure it has to either be that or mating behavior.



Note the two holding their mouths open. This is what reminded me of fledgling behavior.






Series showing one coming in with a fish and passing it then to another.

[Pituophis]

"When attempting to obtain mate, unpaired males and females display the following sequence of behavior: Male captures fish and flies toward group of terns on ground, giving Fish Call and performing Fish-Bending display (see Sounds: vocalizations, above), often several times in succession. Unpaired females on ground respond by taking flight and following male as he performs Fish Flight (Bergman 1953), also known as Low Flight (Cramp 1985): circling and flying low (10–20 m) over colony. Observations of marked terns indicate that other males and paired females whose mates are not present also join chase. After passing over standing birds up to a dozen or more times, fish carrier often lands near them, joined by pursuers. Alternatively, male lands next to lone individual (usually female) standing on edge of group. Carrying fish crosswise in bill, he approaches her and makes bowing movement with head. Female responds by ignoring male, attempting to steal fish, or initiating precopulatory behavior. Often, female actively solicits fish by begging in Hunched-Posture: Stoops low and horizontally, plumage sleeked, with neck retracted, Head-tossing from horizontal upwards (Cramp 1985). Early in season, males are hesitant to relinquish fish, and few initial interactions end with male feeding fish to female. Males may arrive with fish and perform Fish Flight many times during the day with different females. If repeated with same bird, male gradually decreases time spent performing display until he lands next to female and feeds her fish with no hesitation. Copulation often follows courtship-feeding. Males performing Low Flight and females pursuing males often visit several different colony sites per day until they acquire a mate."

-http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/403/articles/behavior

Really interesting and nice pictures. It's really cool that you got to observe that (if it was courtship behaviour).