Inca Tern - Sea Bird with a Fancy Handlebar Mustache
The Inca tern (Larosterna inca) is a species of bird in the Sterninae subfamily of the Laridae family, which includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. The bird is categorized as Near Threatened and is found in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, occasionally venturing to Central America and Hawaii. Importantly, they are the sole member of the Larosterna genus and lack any subspecies. The Inca tern stands 39 to 42 cm (15 to 17 in) tall and weighs between 180 to 210 g (6.3 to 7.4 oz). Its plumage is distinctive, with adults displaying a predominantly dark slate gray body, complemented by a paler throat and underwing coverts. A white stripe extends rearward from the bill's base and fans out as long satiny feathers along the side of the neck. The distinctive white stripe bears a resemblance to the iconic mustache of Hercule Poirot, a well-known fictional Belgian detective...