Common Tern Biography
Common Terns frequent lakes, rivers, oceans, bays, and beaches. During the summer, they use a wide range of coastal and inland aquatic breeding habitats, but most are found in lowlands, with undisturbed flat islands or beaches surrounded by shallow water. In winter, they are more restricted to warm water coastlines.
The Common Tern forages in flight, flying over the water, hovering, and dropping out of the air to catch prey below the surface. They also occasionally steal food from other terns.
Small fish are the mainstay of the Common Tern's diet, along with insects, crustaceans, and other aquatic creatures.
Breeding starts at 3 to 4 years. Most nesting takes place in colonies, but some isolated pairs will breed as well. Both sexes help to make a shallow scrape in soil or sand, which they line with vegetation and other debris. Incubation of the 1 to 3 eggs lasts for about 3 weeks. After a few days, the young leave the nest, but stay nearby. Both parents help feed the young, which first fly at 3 to 4 weeks of age, but stay with the adults for another couple of months.
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
A Flight Of The Common Tern In Tokyo Bay
Common Tern Feeding Small Young 09 June 2010
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