Common Tern

Species Profile

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Quick Facts

Conservation

LCLeast Concern

Lifespan

15–25 years

Length

31–35 cm

Weight

110–145 g

Wingspan

77–98 cm

Migration

Long-distance Migrant

Gliding gracefully over coastal waters, this elegant seabird is a master of long-distance migration.

Also known as: Sea Swallow

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Gallery

Common Tern stood on branch in water
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Common Tern stood on branch in water

Appearance

The Common Tern displays a striking combination of light grey upperparts and white underparts. Its black cap, forked tail, and slender wings are distinctive features. During the breeding season, adults have full black caps and vibrant red bills with a black tip.

Non-breeding adults have a white forehead and duller bill. Juveniles show a ginger-brown wash on their upperparts and a dark carpal bar on their wings.

Identification & Characteristics

Colors

Primary
Grey
Secondary
Black
Beak
Red
Legs
Red

Attributes

Agility95/100
Strength60/100
Adaptability85/100
Aggression75/100
Endurance90/100

Habitat & Distribution

Common Terns inhabit coastal areas, estuaries, and large inland water bodies across North America, Europe, and Asia. They prefer sandy or rocky shores for nesting but can also be found on gravel bars and islands in rivers and lakes.

During winter, they migrate to the southern hemisphere, reaching as far as South America, Africa, and Australasia. They are common summer visitors to the UK, USA, and Canada.

Where and when to see it

How often the Common Tern turns up in the UK and Ireland through the year, from birdwatchers' records.

United Kingdom

Summer visitor · regularly Apr–Sep · most records in July

Ireland

Summer visitor · regularly Apr–Oct · most records in July

Regularly recordedOccasionalBar height: share of all bird records that month
Show as a table
MonthUnited KingdomIreland
January<0.001%–
February<0.001%–
March0.002%0.002%
April0.21% (regular)0.14% (regular)
May0.56% (regular)0.51% (regular)
June0.63% (regular)0.73% (regular)
July0.83% (regular)0.89% (regular)
August0.64% (regular)0.62% (regular)
September0.21% (regular)0.26% (regular)
October0.040%0.060% (regular)
November0.003%0.019%
December––

Recorded regularly in

Worldwide: recorded regularly in 160 countries

Countries where it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024. Linked countries have their own bird list.

Europe (41)
Africa (25)
Asia (42)
North America (34)
South America (11)
Oceania (7)

Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made

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Diet

Common Terns primarily feed on small fish such as herring, sprat, and sand eels. They also consume crustaceans and insects. These birds hunt by plunge-diving from heights of up to 20 meters, entering the water with precision to catch their prey.

Behaviour

Common Terns are agile flyers, often seen hovering before plunging into water to catch fish. They are highly social, nesting in colonies and engaging in elaborate courtship rituals. These birds fiercely defend their nesting territories, diving at intruders with loud calls.

Calls & Sounds

Common Terns are vocal birds, known for their sharp, high-pitched 'kee-arr' call. During the breeding season, they produce various sounds, including a soft 'pit-pit' when greeting mates and a harsh, grating 'kraaah' when alarmed or defending territory.

Nesting & Breeding

Common Terns form monogamous pairs and often return to the same breeding sites year after year. The breeding season typically starts in May in temperate regions.

Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, sometimes lined with vegetation. Females lay 2-3 eggs, which are pale with dark speckles, providing excellent camouflage.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 21-22 days. The chicks fledge after 22-28 days but continue to be fed by their parents for several more weeks.

Conservation

While listed as Least Concern globally, Common Terns face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding sites and managing coastal development to maintain suitable nesting habitats.
LCLeast Concern
[1]

Population

Estimated: 1,600,000 - 3,600,000 mature individuals[3]

Trend: Stable[2]

Elevation

Up to 4,000 meters

Additional Details

Predators:
Main predators include gulls, skuas, ravens, and various mammals such as foxes and rats, which primarily target eggs and chicks.

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for Common Terns near coastal areas, lakes, and large rivers
  • Observe their distinctive fishing behavior: hovering and plunge-diving
  • Listen for their characteristic 'kee-arr' call
  • In the UK and North America, watch for them at coastal nature reserves during the summer months

Did You Know?

  1. Common Terns can live for over 30 years in the wild.
  2. They can dive from heights of up to 20 meters to catch fish.
  3. These birds may fly over 20,000 km during their annual migration.

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Similar Species

Arctic Tern

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaea

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