Page 223 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SKUAS, GULLS,AND TERNS
Order Charadriiformes Family Sternidae Species Sterna paradisaea
Arctic Tern

very pointed, round black cap short red bill
tapered (blacker in
very pale wingtips (with whiter
outer wings forehead in winter)
winter)
thin dark
line on
translucent ADULT white tail with thin line on
flight (SUMMER) long outer outer edge
feathers streamers of wings grey back
looks neckless, ADULT
short-billed
IN FLIGHT
grey
underside
black bill short
dark “V”s and red legs
crescent markings
on back

short legs
ADULT (SUMMER)
JUVENILE
more northerly bird and more strictly maritime than the FLIGHT: relaxed, very buoyant; shorter inner, longer
A Common Tern, the Arctic Tern forms the slightly more elegant outer wing than Common Tern, shorter head,
half of one of the really difficult species pairings in Europe.Good views neckless effect, longer tail.
are usually needed to separate it from the Common Tern.Arctic Terns SILVER WINGS
breed as far north as any bird, and also winter as far south as almost The uniformly pale silver-grey
any other: they are often credited with enjoying more upperwing of the adult shows well
hours of daylight than any other bird on earth. here as it feeds its chick.
VOICE Grating, sharp kee-yaah,
rising pee-pee-pee, kik, kreerr.
NESTING Scrape in sand or
shingle, or hollow in rock;
2 eggs; 1 brood; May–June.
FEEDING Plunges for fish,
often pausing at intervals
before final dive; takes some
insects from water surface.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in far north, south to Great
COMMON TERN dark wedge ROSEATE TERN WHISKERED TERN Britain, mostly on offshore islands,
see p.220 on outer see p.222 blacker bill juvenile, similar to
wings juvenile; see p.225 also on sandy or gravelly beaches.
Migrant around North Sea and
dusky band Atlantic coasts, usually scarce
under inland, occasional flocks appearing
wingtips whiter
longer stockier briefly in spring.
head, neck, and
and bill greyer Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 32–35cm (12 1 ⁄2 –14in) Wingspan 80–95cm (32–37in) Weight 80–110g (2 7 ⁄8 –4oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure
221