Latin name

Sterna hirundo

Family

Terns (Sternidae)

Where to see them

Breeds along coasts with shingle beaches and rocky islands, on rivers with shingle bars, and at inland gravel pits and reservoirs, feeding along rivers and over freshwater. Migrating birds can be seen offshore in autumn.

When to see them

Throughout the summer - they arrive in April and leave in August and September. They are most obvious when feeding young as they will fly some distance for food, returning to the nest site with a fish.

What they eat

Fish

Population

In the UK

Most of the UK, but scarce in south-west.

Common tern (adult breeding)

• Size: between pigeon-mallard
• Feather colours: black, white, grey
• Beak colours: black/dark grey, orange, red/pink
• Beak length: long
• Beak thickness: long
• Leg colour: orange, red
• Behaviour: part of flock, on ground, bird walks/runs on the ground, catches insects in flight, dives underwater

Common tern (juvenile)

• Colouring: Juvenile
• Size: between pigeon-mallard
• Feather colours: brown, black, white, grey
• Beak colours: black/dark grey, brown/buff, orange, red/pink
• Beak length: long
• Beak thickness: long
• Leg colour: brown, orange, red
• Behaviour: part of flock, on ground, bird walks/runs on the ground, catches insects in flight, dives underwater

• 
  Arctic tern
• 
  Roseate tern