Common Tern (GTM Research Reserve Bird Guide)

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Summary ⁷

The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. 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...

Taxon biology ⁸

Common terns live up to their Dutch name 'fish thief'. They grab small fish out of the water in less than no time by diving straight downwards and flying back up directly with their loot. They are very common along the coast, but also along lakes and rivers. They nest and hunt in the Netherlands from the end of March till early November. They often breed in colonies, preferably on marshes, beach plains, low dunes or islands. However nowadays it's not unusual to find them nesting on or in the vicinity of buildings, such as roofs, industrial areas and parking areas. Common terns spend the winter in Africa.