| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Sterna hirundo (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Common Tern French name: Sterne pierregarin, Estorlet, Hirondelle de mer Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae Size: Body size: 31 to 39 cm; Weight: 90 to 150 g; Wingspan: 72 to 83 cm. Habitat: Coastal areas, rocky islands, but also inland along rivers and on lake banks. Food: Small fishes caught after a vertical dive following a stationary flight. Nesting: The Common Tern nests on the ground, in colonies or isolated. There are 2 to 3 eggs per clutch. Migration: In winter populations move to the coats of Africa and sometimes further away, as far as Australia or New Zealand. Geographic area: Europe, Asia, North America, the Caribbean's. |
During the nuptial period Common Terns show a white and grey plumage with a black cap and an orange-red bill with a black tip. The legs are red. During the internuptial period, the bill becomes black, the forehead and the under side parts become white. The main risk of confusion is with the Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) which shows a longer tail and a bill without any black tip. In flight, the Arctic Tern has a very shorter neck, the head appears close to the wings. |
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A small population of Common Terns nest on the gravel beds of the Basse vallée du Doubs. These ones have passed over my head in a very noisy flight while I was looking for European Bee-eaters and Sand Martins. |
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While in Valencia, we took the opportunity to go bird watching at the Albufera Natural Park with its large lake very close to the seaside. Just a little before arriving we stopped at the Racó de l'Olla Interpretation Centre which is equipped for bird watching. A close-up view of a Common Tern is not yet for today but there is a large colony over there. |
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A hole in the vegetation bordering the lake in Herăstrău Park in Bucharest allowed us to observe a few Common Terns. |
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Well hidden behind the vegetation we were able to observe a couple busy feeding two young. |
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"I want another fish!" -- "I want one too!" |
André Bon October 2024
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