Common Tern - Sterna Hirundo

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 a number of similar species, including the partly sympatric Arctic tern, which can be separated on plumage details, leg and bill colour, or vocalisations.

Breeding in a wider range of habitats than any of its relatives, the common tern nests on any flat, poorly vegetated surface close to water, including beaches and islands, and it readily adapts to artificial substrates such as floating rafts. The nest may be a bare scrape in sand or gravel, but it is often lined or edged with whatever debris is available. Up to three eggs may be laid, their dull colours and blotchy patterns providing camouflage on the open beach.

Population:

UK breeding:
12,000 pairs

Tags:   Common Tern Terns Tern Summer Migrant Sea Sea Birds Seashore Shore-Birds Countryside Coastal Birds Coastline Coast Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Water-Birds Waterways Wildlife Photography Jeff Lack Photography Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Nature Photography Nature Nikon Ornithology

© All Rights Reserved

Common Tern - Sterna Hirundo


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 a number of similar species, including the partly sympatric Arctic tern, which can be separated on plumage details, leg and bill colour, or vocalisations.

Breeding in a wider range of habitats than any of its relatives, the common tern nests on any flat, poorly vegetated surface close to water, including beaches and islands, and it readily adapts to artificial substrates such as floating rafts. The nest may be a bare scrape in sand or gravel, but it is often lined or edged with whatever debris is available. Up to three eggs may be laid, their dull colours and blotchy patterns providing camouflage on the open beach.

Population:

UK breeding:
12,000 pairs

Tags:   Common Tern Terns Tern Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Water-Birds Waterways Wildlife Photography Jeff Lack Photography Sea Sea Birds Seashore Shore-Birds Summer Migrant Countryside Coastal Birds Coastline Coast Cliffs Lakes Estuaries Estuary Reservoirs Reserves Nature Photography Nature Nikon

© All Rights Reserved

Common Tern - Sterna Hirundo

Adult and Juvenile.

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 a number of similar species, including the partly sympatric Arctic tern, which can be separated on plumage details, leg and bill colour, or vocalisations.

Breeding in a wider range of habitats than any of its relatives, the common tern nests on any flat, poorly vegetated surface close to water, including beaches and islands, and it readily adapts to artificial substrates such as floating rafts. The nest may be a bare scrape in sand or gravel, but it is often lined or edged with whatever debris is available. Up to three eggs may be laid, their dull colours and blotchy patterns providing camouflage on the open beach.

Population:

UK breeding:
12,000 pairs

Tags:   Common Tern Terns Tern Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Waterways Water-Birds Wildlife Photography Jeff Lack Photography Sea Sea Birds Seashore Shore-Birds Countryside Coastal Birds Coastline Coast Cliffs Summer Migrant Estuaries Estuary Reservoirs Nature Nature Photography Nikon Ornithology

© All Rights Reserved

Common Tern - Sterna Hirundo

Adult and Juvenile.

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 a number of similar species, including the partly sympatric Arctic tern, which can be separated on plumage details, leg and bill colour, or vocalisations.

Breeding in a wider range of habitats than any of its relatives, the common tern nests on any flat, poorly vegetated surface close to water, including beaches and islands, and it readily adapts to artificial substrates such as floating rafts. The nest may be a bare scrape in sand or gravel, but it is often lined or edged with whatever debris is available. Up to three eggs may be laid, their dull colours and blotchy patterns providing camouflage on the open beach.

Population:

UK breeding:
12,000 pairs

Tags:   Common Tern Terns Tern Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Birds of Prey Sea Birds Shore-Birds Seashore Countryside Coastal Birds Coastline Coast Estuaries Estuary Reservoirs Lakes Wetlands Wildlife. Wildbirds Water-Birds Waterways Wildlife Photography Jeff Lack Photography Summer Migrant Nature Nature Photography Nikon Ornithology

© All Rights Reserved

Common Tern - Sterna Hirundo

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 a number of similar species, including the partly sympatric Arctic tern, which can be separated on plumage details, leg and bill colour, or vocalisations.

Breeding in a wider range of habitats than any of its relatives, the common tern nests on any flat, poorly vegetated surface close to water, including beaches and islands, and it readily adapts to artificial substrates such as floating rafts. The nest may be a bare scrape in sand or gravel, but it is often lined or edged with whatever debris is available. Up to three eggs may be laid, their dull colours and blotchy patterns providing camouflage on the open beach.

Population:

UK breeding:
12,000 pairs

Tags:   Common Tern Terns Tern Avian Animal Animals Birds. Bird Bird Photography Sea Sea Birds Seashore Countryside Coastal Birds Coastline Coast Cliffs Wildlife. Wildbirds Wetlands Water-Birds Waterways Wildlife Photography Jeff Lack Photography Reservoirs Estuaries Estuary Summer Migrant Nikon Nature Photography Nature

© All Rights Reserved