Common Tern
Common Tern (<em>Sterna hirundo</em>) is a species of Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (<em>Laridae</em>) in the order Shorebirds, Gulls and Alcids.
Overview
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is a species of Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) in the order Shorebirds, Gulls and Alcids. A slim white tern with a black cap and forked tail, hovering before plunge-diving for fish; nests in noisy colonies on shingle and islands; a cosmopolitan migrant.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Sterna; binomial: Sterna hirundo; authority: Linnaeus, 1758. Typical size: 31-35cm. Average lifespan: 10-20 years.
Distribution
Breeding range: the Palearctic and the Nearctic. Non-breeding range: widespread coasts to s South America, s Africa, w Madagascar, and s Australia.
Conservation Status
This taxon is listed as Extant (living) in the IOC World Bird List.
Remarks
No additional remarks recorded.
