Page 222 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Order Charadriiformes Family Sternidae Species Sterna hirundo
Common Tern black cap black-tipped,
bright red
grey upperparts
bill
darker
outermost
feathers
on wings
thick dark band
on underwings ADULT
(SUMMER)
translucent long neck grey below
patch on
underwings long bill red legs ADULT
(SUMMER)
dark nape
IN FLIGHT
pale base
to bill white
slight washed-ginger forehead
barring on upperparts
dark
shoulder
dark shoulder
long legs
JUVENILE dark streaks on
outer wings
ADULT
(WINTER)
he most likely tern to be seen inland over most of Europe, the
TCommon Tern is very much a bird of the coast in most of its
range. It is a typical black-capped, pale-bodied tern, rather grey, with
a red bill and legs. It usually plunge-dives for prey, which it may FLIGHT: steady, relaxed, shallow, spring-like
quickly swallow or carry off in its bill for either its mate or chicks wingbeats; soars high above colony.
back at the nest.The Common DIVING FOR FISH
Tern often mixes with Arctic The Common Tern is a classic
and Sandwich Terns. plunge-diver, hovering before
VOICE Grating, thin, falling diving headlong for fish.
kreee-yair, sharp kik kik, ringing
keeer, rapid kirrikirrikirrik.
NESTING Scrape in sand or
dry earth on ground; 2–4 eggs;
1 brood; May–June.
FEEDING Plunges from air for
fish and aquatic invertebrates;
picks some insects and fish
from water surface in flight.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread, breeding inland in
ARCTIC TERN no dark larger black bill C and E Europe, mostly in coasts
streaks on more trans- and whiter in W Europe, but also locally on
parent outer wings
in flight; see p.221 shorter bill gravel pits and shingly rivers.
Migrant almost everywhere on
whiter below
coasts; moderately common
black legs inland on freshwater areas.
ROSEATE TERN
no dusky band under SANDWICH TERN Seen in the UK
wingtips in flight; see p.222 see p.218 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 31–35cm (12–14in) Wingspan 82–95cm (32–37in) Weight 90–150g (3 1 ⁄4 –5oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure
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