Bird species profile
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
About the species
The Common Tern is a slender, elegant seabird with a black cap, pointed wings, and a deeply forked tail. In Patagonia, it is seen during the austral summer, having migrated thousands of kilometers from its northern breeding sites. Its plumage is mostly pale grey and white, with a striking black line through the eye and a red bill tipped with black. Common Terns are highly social, often nesting in colonies and forming large flocks during migration. Their calls are sharp and distinctive, and they are frequently observed hovering over water before plunging to catch small fish. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in both coastal and inland water habitats, making them one of the most widespread terns in the world.
Habitat
Coastal lagoons, estuaries, sandy beaches, and occasionally inland lakes and rivers.
Foraging
Feeds mainly by plunge-diving for small fish and aquatic invertebrates, often in shallow coastal waters.
