Common Tern

A common tern (Sterna hirundo) is a medium-sized waterbird in the family Laridae, which also includes gulls. It is known for its graceful flight, forked tail, and sharp, angular wings. 🐦

The common tern has a slender body with a long, forked tail and a pair of long, pointed wings. Its plumage is a light gray with a white belly, a black cap, and an orange beak with a black tip.

Common terns are found in coastal waters and inland lakes. They are carnivores and their diet consists of a wide variety of small fish, which they catch by diving headfirst into the water.

Common terns are a highly migratory species, traveling long distances between their breeding grounds in North America and Eurasia and their wintering grounds in the Southern Hemisphere. They are a social species that nests in large colonies on coastal islands and beaches.