Common Tern

Sterna hirundo Linnaeus, 1758

Laridae — Gulls, Terns, Skimmers

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo, is a seabird of the Laridae family that breeds across the Palearctic and North America, with a range spanning subarctic and temperate areas and reaching local tropical parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Outside the breeding season it is found widely on coasts as far south as South America, southern Africa, western Madagascar and southern Australia. It is recognised by its breeding plumage, which includes pale upperparts, white to very pale underparts, a black cap, orange-red legs and a slim pointed bill that varies in colour between subspecies.

Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Laridae — Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Breeding range
Palearctic, North America: widespread, subarctic, temperate, and locally tropical Northern Hemisphere
Nonbreeding range
widespread coasts to s South America, s Africa, w Madagascar, and s Australia
Common Tern
© MPF · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

9 tours in Canada 3, Thailand 3, South Africa 2, Slovenia 1

Sečovlje Salina Expert Birdwatching Tour with Iztok Škornik
Sečovlje Salina Expert Birdwatching Tour with Iztok Škornik
Slovenia / Secovlje Private tour 1 day

A three-hour expert birdwatching programme in Slovenia’s Sečovlje salt pans with ornithologist, conservationist and nature photographer I...

Ferry Birding Tour – 4 hours with awesome river birds
Ferry Birding Tour – 4 hours with awesome river birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 4h

A four-hour self-drive circuit north of Saskatoon, crossing the South Saskatchewan River by two ferries and birding wooded shorelines....

From CAD 250
Chief Whitecap Park Birding Tour – fantastic 3-hour walk for beautiful songbirds
Chief Whitecap Park Birding Tour – fantastic 3-hour walk for beautiful songbirds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3h

A private three-hour hike through Chief Whitecap Park’s moist woodland and South Saskatchewan River valley habitat near Saskatoon....

From CAD 190
Weir Birding and Walking Tour in Saskatoon’s river valley 2026
Weir Birding and Walking Tour in Saskatoon’s river valley 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 2h

A private two-hour walk beside Saskatoon’s weir, using a spotting scope for river birds before exploring the wooded riverbank for songbird...

From CAD 130
2-Day West Coast Birding Tour
2-Day West Coast Birding Tour
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 2 days

Explore the Western Cape coast over two days, from Darling farmland and Geelbek shorebirds to a Berg River boat trip and Velddrif wetlands....

10-Day Western Cape Birding Tour
10-Day Western Cape Birding Tour
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 10 days

A private or small-group Western Cape birding itinerary from Cape Town through the Cape Peninsula, West Coast, Tankwa Karoo, Agulhas Plain, ...

Khao Sok Bird Watching by Canoeing 3 Days
Khao Sok Bird Watching by Canoeing 3 Days
Thailand / Khao Sok Group tour 3 days

Khao Sok Bird Watching by Canoeing – 3 Days / 2 Nights is a unique wildlife adventure combining birdwatching with serene canoe exploration...

Krabi Mangrove Bird Watching Day Trip
Krabi Mangrove Bird Watching Day Trip
Thailand / Krabi Group tour 1 day

Mangrove Birdwatching Day Trip with Mr. Dai – Krabi, Thailand Discover incredible birdlife in the mangrove forests near Krabi Town on thi...

Khao Sok Bird Watching Day Trip
Khao Sok Bird Watching Day Trip
Thailand / Khao Sok Private tour 1 day

Escape into one of Thailand’s most spectacular rainforests on this Khao Sok Bird Watching Day Trip. Just a few hours from Phuket and Khao ...