There are many different features that birds can have. Crests, wattles, colorful feet, etc., but I think this may be the first time I've ever seen one with a bonafide mustache.
In fact, as far as I've been able to find, the Inca tern is the only bird species to sport such a dashing handlebar.
These seabirds can be found along the Pacific coast of Peru and Chile, where they nest in the coastal cliffs and small islands dotting the shore.
They get their name from the ancient Inca Empire that once ruled over their habitat.
Both males and females look the same and it's believed that the length of the mustache acts as a sign of health when choosing a mate.
Typically, pairs will stay together for a whole breeding season, though they don't necessarily return to the same mate year after year.
It's described as a "mew" similar to a kitten, though a loud one.
I couldn't find a clip where they didn't sound angry.
They eat anchovies and other small fish, competing with human fisheries for food, and their island nesting sites are often destroyed by the guano trade. Hopefully, conservation efforts will protect them from becoming endangered in the future.
