<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Morphometric data on Common Terns breeding in Croatia and Slovenia are presented herewith for the first time. 130 breeding adult Common Terns <italic>Sterna hirundo</italic> were measured between 2016 and 2019 along the Sava and Drava Rivers. Sex was determined for 53 birds: 22 males and 31 females. Significant sexual differences were found for head and bill length, length of bill to skull, and bill depth. Croatian and Slovenian terns had slightly shorter wings and tails compared to birds from the Netherlands, Germany and England and were lighter than birds from Germany and Italy. Head, bill and tarsus lengths were similar to those in north European populations. Contrary to results from Scotland, in our studied population, birds with head and bill lengths >79.0 mm could not be sexed as males reliably.</p></abstract>

Morphometric data on Common Terns breeding in Croatia and Slovenia are presented herewith for the first time. 130 breeding adult Common Terns Sterna hirundo were measured between 2016 and 2019 along the Sava and Drava Rivers. Sex was determined for 53 birds: 22 males and 31 females. Significant sexual differences were found for head and bill length, length of bill to skull, and bill depth. Croatian and Slovenian terns had slightly shorter wings and tails compared to birds from the Netherlands, Germany and England and were lighter than birds from Germany and Italy. Head, bill and tarsus lengths were similar to those in north European populations. Contrary to results from Scotland, in our studied population, birds with head and bill lengths >79.0 mm could not be sexed as males reliably.

Morphometry of inland Common Terns <italic>Sterna hirundo</italic> in Croatia and Slovenia

Acrocephalus

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Morphometry of inland Common Terns  in Croatia and Slovenia

Morphometric data on Common Terns breeding in Croatia and Slovenia are presented herewith for the first time. 130 breeding adult Common Terns Sterna hirundo...

Morphometry of inland Common Terns Sterna hirundo in Croatia and Slovenia

Published Online: Apr 03, 2020

Page range: 93 - 96

Received: Jul 11, 2019

Accepted: Sep 18, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/acro-2019-0006

Keywords
sexual dimorphism, head and bill lengths

© 2019 Jelena Kralj et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Morphometry of inland Common Terns Sterna hirundo in Croatia and Slovenia

Published Online: Apr 03, 2020

Page range: 93 - 96

Received: Jul 11, 2019

Accepted: Sep 18, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/acro-2019-0006

Keywordssexual dimorphism, head and bill lengths

© 2019 Jelena Kralj et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
sexual dimorphism, head and bill lengths