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Common TernSize: 31-35 cm; wing span 77-98 cm Weight: 110-140 g |
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Similar |
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See Common
Tern at Wikipedia |
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Photos |
Race "longipennis"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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NON-BREEDING |
Near-frontal view of a Common Tern in non-breeding
plumage
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Close-up lateral view of a Common Tern in non-breeding
plumage;
note the prominent darker-grey carpal bar on the upperwing
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]
Lateral view of a Common Tern in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Old Bar, NSW, February 2018]
Lateral view of a Common Tern in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Old Bar, NSW, February 2018]
Lateral view of two Common Terns in non-breeding
plumage
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
The same Common Terns as shown above, now with their heads turned away
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Lateral view of Common Terns in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Caloundra Headland, QLD, January 2018]
Lateral view of two preening Common Terns in non-breeding
plumage behind two
Little Terns
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Caloundra Headland, QLD, January 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Common Tern (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]
One Common Tern preening, another resting and the third just
looking ahead...
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Small group of Common Terns on a rockshelf; the bird near the
centre gives an almost frontal view
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Common Terns resting on a
beach (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]
Lateral view of Common Terns in non-breeding plumage; for direct comparison
there are two
Greater Crested Terns in the foreground (adult) and on the left
(immature)
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2014]
Small flock of Common Terns in non-breeding plumage engaged in various activities
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Another part of the same small flock of Common Terns, but with one
interloper - who can spot the odd one out?
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Common Tern in flight
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]
Different phase of the wingbeat
[Off Wybung Head, Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]
Common Tern, bottom, with deeply forked tail, in comparison with a
Little Tern, top
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Old Bar, NSW, February 2018]
Common Terns in comparison with
Little Terns
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Old Bar, NSW, February 2018]
Common Tern, bottom left, with deeply forked tail, in comparison with a
Little Tern, top right
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Old Bar, NSW, February 2018]
Race "hirundo"
A Common Tern, nominate race "hirundo", was photographed by us in Oman.
More Common Tern photos of nominate race "hirundo" are available from Europe.
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Food, Diet |
Like most terns, Common Terns feed on fish, which they catch with their bills just under the water surface in a steep high-speed dive from considerable height.
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
comtern_jp_20190717.m4a |
hirundo (Portugal) |
? | © JP | |
comtern_jp_20190717_2.m4a |
hirundo (Portugal) |
? | © JP |
More Common Tern sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.