Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From a distance, I spotted a Little Tern couple in the midst of a courtship feeding ritual.
How proud this male Little Tern must have felt while offering his female partner a huge yummy fish! Much to my surprise (and his disappointment), the female declined to accept his prized catch!
As the scene played out, it dawned on me that the female Little Tern was actually already ready to mate, while her male partner was still stuck in the courtship feeding routine.
Keeping her body low, with wings quivering ever so slightly, she was waiting patiently for her male partner to mount. Alas, the latter appeared to be impeded by the big fish in his bill. Not only was the female uninterested in his gift, but the latter proved to be a hindrance instead!
The poor male looked flustered, seemingly undecided as to what to do next.
The next few agonising minutes saw the female maintaining her lowered posture, while the hapless male tottered around, fish still held firmly in bill.
Finally, the female ran out of patience. She appeared to "give him a piece of her mind" before taking off in a huff.
To me, this encounter was one of the most interesting bird behaviour I have ever witnessed.
Little terns are common residents in Singapore.
#sgbirds #sgnature #sgwildlife #sgbiodiversity #cityinagarden #animalbuzzsg #nparksbuzz #cityinnature
From a distance, I spotted a Little Tern couple in the midst of a courtship feeding ritual.
How proud this male Little Tern must have felt while offering his female partner a huge yummy fish! Much to my surprise (and his disappointment), the female declined to accept his prized catch!
As the scene played out, it dawned on me that the female Little Tern was actually already ready to mate, while her male partner was still stuck in the courtship feeding routine.
Keeping her body low, with wings quivering ever so slightly, she was waiting patiently for her male partner to mount. Alas, the latter appeared to be impeded by the big fish in his bill. Not only was the female uninterested in his gift, but the latter proved to be a hindrance instead!
The poor male looked flustered, seemingly undecided as to what to do next.
The next few agonising minutes saw the female maintaining her lowered posture, while the hapless male tottered around, fish still held firmly in bill.
Finally, the female ran out of patience. She appeared to "give him a piece of her mind" before taking off in a huff.
To me, this encounter was one of the most interesting bird behaviour I have ever witnessed.
Little terns are common residents in Singapore.
#sgbirds #sgnature #sgwildlife #sgbiodiversity #cityinagarden #animalbuzzsg #nparksbuzz #cityinnature
