Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

OTHER NAMES: Sea Swallow

Latin Etymology: Sterna (Old English word for Black Tern) hirundo ("swallow")

Adult Common Tern (subspecies S. h. hirundo) at London Wetland Centre, London - June 2018

Featured Subspecies: Sterna hirundo hirundo

Weight: 110-141g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 77-98cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

By far the easiest Tern species to see, if not actually the most numerous - common terns breed at many locations inland, particularly at nature reserves where islands have been made specifically for them to nest. They can also often be seen over more or less any decent sized body of water with some luck. Visually very similar to the Arctic Tern, there are subtle differences, but you can almost guarantee that a tern of this sort seen inland is a common tern.


Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae (Terns)
Genus: Sterna
Subspecies: S. h. hirundo, S. h. minussensis, S. h. tibetana, S. h. longipennis 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally fairly common Summer migrant breeding species (12000 pairs)

 - Seen at various sites including Farne Islands,  Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes and Pitsford Reservoir

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)

OTHER NAMES: Sea Swallow, Sparling, Pickieterno, Rittock
Latin Etymology: Sterna (Old English word for Black Tern) paradisaea ("paradise")

Adult Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) at Farne Islands, Northumbria - July 2009

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 86-127g  /  Length: 33-36cm  /  Wingspan: 76-85cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Most famous for its pole to pole migration, the arctic tern is infact hard to differentiate from the common tern, which is, as the name suggests, more common. Generally, the arctic tern is more of a coastal bird than the common tern (although common are found at the coast, and arctic occasionally inland on passage). Though they are very similar to common terns, features such as the lack of black on the beak, a grey tinged underside and tail-streamers which extend well beyond the tips of the wings when on the ground. The Farne islands in the spring are a superb place to see this bird up close - although watch out for being dive bombed as they protect their nests!


Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Sterna 
Subspecies - none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Local Summer breeding migrant (53,000 pairs)

 - Common breeder on the Farne Islands

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .