All species
summer visitor
Amber-listedTerns
Common Tern
A graceful seabird with a black cap, red bill and long pointed wings. Common Terns hover over water before diving headfirst to catch small fish, and nest on shingle islands and rafts.
Sterna hirundo
Coastal Estuaries Lakes Reservoirs
Size
31-35 cm
Wingspan
75-80 cm
Weight
100-150 g
Lifespan
10-15 years
Diet
Small fish, caught by plunge-diving from the air.
Song & Call
A sharp, piercing 'kee-err' call.
How to identify
- Black cap
- Red bill with black tip
- Grey upperparts
- Long pointed wings
Conservation
Amber-listed
Amber-listed; colonies are vulnerable to disturbance, flooding and predation.
