Common Tern Bird Facts (Sterna hirundo)

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.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Common Tern can be found in Wetland habitats.

The Common Tern can be found in Coastal habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Common Tern is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Common Tern. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that pass through the area during migration

Bahrain Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Sudan Yemen

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Comoros Fiji Iceland Jamaica Liechtenstein Malawi Maldives New Zealand Paraguay Zambia

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Common Tern exhibits exceptional agility, demonstrated by its precise plunge-diving technique and ability to hover before striking. Its sleek body and forked tail contribute to remarkable aerial manoeuvrability, essential for its fishing lifestyle.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

While not exceptionally strong for its size, the Common Tern possesses adequate strength to carry fish and defend its territory. Its ability to dive from heights of up to 20 metres and withstand the impact with water suggests moderate strength.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Common Terns show high adaptability, thriving in various coastal and inland waterway habitats across multiple continents. Their long-distance migration capabilities and ability to nest in diverse locations, from sandy shores to gravel bars, further demonstrate their adaptiveness.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

These birds display considerable aggressiveness, particularly during breeding season. They fiercely defend their nesting territories, often diving at intruders with loud calls. This protective behaviour is crucial for safeguarding their eggs and chicks from potential predators.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Common Tern's endurance is remarkable, evidenced by its long-distance migrations covering over 20,000 km annually. Additionally, their ability to engage in frequent fishing dives and maintain aerial patrols of their territory demonstrates impressive stamina.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Common Tern typically lives for 15 to 25 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

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.

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

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

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

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Visual Identification

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Habitat and Distribution

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Bird Attributes

Bird Attributes Explained

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Understanding the Ratings:

Agility

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Adaptability

Aggressiveness

Endurance

Diet

Behaviour

Vocalisation

Nesting & Breeding

Lifespan

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Population Data

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