File:2014-05-18_Sterna_hirundo,_Killingworth_Lake,_Northumberland_04.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Common Tern
Also known as Sterna hirundo
species of bird
AI overview
The Common Tern is a seabird found across much of the Northern Hemisphere that hunts for small fish by diving into water from the air. These birds are important indicators of aquatic ecosystem health and have been studied extensively to understand how environmental changes affect wildlife populations.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Least Concerncommon tern
Species
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderCharadriiformes
- FamilyLaridae
Habitatmarine
Observations60,732
via IUCN
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Common tern 2025 07 08 08.jpg
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- taxon name
- Sterna hirundo
- Commons category
- Sterna hirundo
~40 min read
Article
Twisted head
The common tern (Sterna hirundo) is a seabird in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, its four subspecies breeding in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. Breeding adults have light grey upperparts, white to very light grey underparts, a black cap, orange-red legs, and a narrow pointed bill. Depending on the subspecies, the bill may be mostly red with a black tip or all black. There are several similar species, including the partly sympatric Arctic tern, which can be separated on plumage details, leg and bill colour, or vocalisations.