Photo: Alexis Lours / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New South Wales Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Northern Territory Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Queensland Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Tasmania Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Victoria Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Western Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Alberta Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of British Columbia

See what's near you right now

The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 129 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Sterna
Species hirundo

Where it lives

Widespread, subarctic, temperate, and locally tropical Northern Hemisphere

Quick facts

Weight: 129 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Common Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Common Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers PAL, NA widespread, subarctic, temperate, and locally tropical Northern Hemisphere.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 129 g, with a wing length of about 25.3 cm and a tail of around 13 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 30.2 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Common Tern — Flight call

Recorded by Paul Kelly Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Common Tern?

The Common Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 129 g.

Where does the Common Tern live?

The Common Tern is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering PAL, NA widespread, subarctic, temperate, and locally tropical Northern Hemisphere, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Common Tern belong to?

The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Common Tern eat?

The Common Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Common Tern migrate?

The Common Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Common Tern endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Common Tern make?

1 real field recording of the Common Tern — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Common Tern's range?

The Common Tern has a mapped global range of about 30.2 million km².