Sternula albifrons
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Mass
~55 g
Habitat
Coastal areas
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The little tern looks delicate and light, with a neat white forehead and a slim bill. In breeding plumage, the dark cap gives it a crisp, tidy look rather than a heavy one. It flies fast and dives for food without much hesitation. Its call is sharp and easy to notice, and near the nest it becomes bold and will drive off intruders. It uses sandy shores and flat gravel bars on large rivers, where it takes small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, snails, and insects. It breeds across much of Europe, parts of Africa and Asia, northern Australia, and Oceania, and it is strongly migratory.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The little tern looks delicate and light, with a neat white forehead and a slim bill. In breeding plumage, the dark cap gives it a crisp, tidy look rather than a heavy one. It flies fast and dives for food without much hesitation. Its call is sharp and easy to notice, and near the nest it becomes bold and will drive off intruders. It uses sandy shores and flat gravel bars on large rivers, where it takes small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, snails, and insects. It breeds across much of Europe, parts of Africa and Asia, northern Australia, and Oceania, and it is strongly migratory.
