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10

Common Tern

(Sterna hirundo)
Size: 31-35 cm; wing span 77-98 cm
Weight: 110-140 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Common Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "longipennis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

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.

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.

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 .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.