BirdUp · Species
Common Tern
Sterna hirundoLinnaeus, 1758
- Commonness
- Very common
- Best seen
- Year-round
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
The common tern is a seabird in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, its four subspecies breeding in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. Breeding adults have light grey upperparts, white to very light grey underparts, a black cap, orange-red legs, and a narrow pointed bill. Depending on the subspecies, the bill may be mostly red with a black tip or all black. There are several similar species, including the partly sympatric Arctic tern, which can be separated on plumage details, leg and bill colour, or vocalisations.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
02 · Where
Where to find it
- Breeding range
- PAL, NA : widespread, subarctic, temperate, and locally tropical Northern Hemisphere
- Non-breeding range
- Widespread coasts to south South America, south Africa, west Madagascar, and south Australia
03 · When
When to look
Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
2 photos
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