Common Tern Bird Facts (Sterna hirundo)

Visual Identification

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.

Size

Length

31cm to 35cm

Wingspan

77cm to 98cm

Weight

110g to 145g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey White

Secondary Colour

Black Red

Beak Colour

Red Black

Leg Colour

Red Orange

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Common Tern is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Common Tern is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Common Tern can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Common Tern can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Common Tern is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Common Tern is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Common Tern is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Common Tern is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Common Tern is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Common Tern is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Common Tern is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Common Tern is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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.

Elevation Range

Up to 4,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

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

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Aruba Australia Azerbaijan Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Benin Bhutan Bolivia Brazil Brunei Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Chile China Colombia Côte D'Ivoire Cuba Cyprus Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor (Timor-Leste) Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Falkland Islands Finland France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Japan Kenya Liberia Libya Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Mali Malta Martinique Mauritius Mexico Moldova Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Caledonia Nicaragua Nigeria North Korea Oman Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Réunion Romania Russia Saint Barthelemy Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Suriname Sweden Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand The Bahamas Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Ukraine United Arab Emirates Venezuela Vietnam Western Sahara

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Afghanistan Albania Armenia Austria Belarus Bermuda Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Estonia Faroe Islands Georgia Hungary Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Mauritania Mongolia Netherlands Norway Russia Senegal Slovenia Switzerland Tajikistan The United Kingdom Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos United States of America Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Belize British Virgin Islands Costa Rica Curaçao Guadeloupe Malaysia Micronesia Saint Martin Uruguay US Virgin Islands

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

Comoros Fiji Iceland Jamaica Liechtenstein Malawi Maldives New Zealand Paraguay Zambia

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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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.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 95

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 60

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 85

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 75

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 90

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.

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.

Vocalisation

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 and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

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.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

1,600,000 - 3,600,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Sea Swallow

Family:

Laridae

Average Lifespan

15 to 25 years

Predators

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

Did You Know?

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.