Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
A common summer costal Tern found in non-breeding plumage. Grey above, white below. Antarctic Tern is larger than with dark red bill. .
Terns
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Abundant summer visitor. Distinguished from [Arctic Tern] and [Antarctic Tern] by longer bill and, at rest, noticeably longer legs; in flight in non-breeding plumage by grey rump and tail (not white), and by only the inner primaries appearing translucent. In breeding plumage, red bill has black tip. Occurs in thousands offshore, roosting in estuaries and on beaches.
Quick Facts
Size
35 -38 cm - M
Names
A: Gewone Sterretjie
Z: unontenteza
Ss: Lepheulane La Hlapi
G: Flußseeschwalbe
Bird Family
More slender, more agile than gulls and, in most species, with deeply forked tails. The majority feed at sea, plunge-diving for fish. A few, such as the marsh terns, feed mainly on insects caught in dipping flight or plucked from the surface of inland ponds, lakes and rivers. Calls are mostly similar and rather nondescript, typically ‘kee-vit' or ‘krit'.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs in thousands offshore, roosting in estuaries and on beaches.
