Common Tern
Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Coast and inland gravel pits.
Diet: Small fish.
Best time to spot: Red bill with black tip.
When to look
Resident in the UK, so it can be found year-round. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in British seabirds.
Where to see it
Reserves where the Common Tern is on the list:
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Arctic TernUncommon · Northern coasts (summer)
- Roseate TernRare · Few breeding colonies
- White WagtailUncommon · Coast
- Little Ringed PloverUncommon · Gravel pits
- Black-necked GrebeRare · Reservoirs
- Eurasian OystercatcherCommon · Coast
Kit that helps
Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, tested picks, no extra cost to you.
See Common Tern sightings on the map