Gulls and terns · Shorebirds
Little Tern
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Sternula albifrons
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Voice
Call
Jochem verweij
Call
Jochem verweij
Call
Jochem verweij
How to recognize it
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20 cm, very small gull-like tern
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White forehead and eyebrow stripes, partial black cap
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Yellow bill with black tip, yellowish legs
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Pale grey above, white below; plunge-dives for fish
About the species
Little Terns stay close to the water, moving quickly over shorelines and river shallows before dropping in for fish. Their call is a loud, creaking sound that carries well over open ground.
They breed in loose colonies on gravel, shingle, or sandy banks, and defend nests and chicks strongly. The female lays two to four eggs in a shallow scrape, and the young leave the nest soon after hatching.
They feed by plunge-diving for small fish, and also take crustaceans, mollusks, snails, and insects. In Europe they breed on coasts and larger rivers, then move to warmer oceans for the winter.
Where to find
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On sandy spits by large rivers — look for low, quick hunting dips over the shallows for small fish.
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Along gravel banks and river islands — notice it on fast, low flights over the water, calling with a harsh creaking voice.
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On quiet canal bends and backwaters with open shallows — it circles, then plunge-dives just under the surface.
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After water levels drop on bare sandbars — small groups often stand directly on the ground and keep close to the edge.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Sternula albifrons Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Little tern Encyclopedia article