Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Common Tern Common Tern, UK
Common Tern Common Tern, UK
Common Tern Photo above by Dr Harsha Vardhan Reddy, taken in Finland
The Common Tern breeds in subarctic and temperature northern latitudes of Europe, Asia and North America and migrates south to winter in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia, Australasia and South America. One of the key features distinguishing it from the Arctic Tern on migration is the black tip on its red bill.
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern, showing the dark grey wedge on the upper wing, one of the features distinguishing it from the Arctic Tern which has uniform grey upper wings.
Tern
Tern
Tern
These Terns were diving for fish in Regents Park, central London, and flying Northwest . . .
Tern
Tern
Common Tern
. . . taking the fish to the nesting pontoons such as those at Brent Reservoir.
Tern nesting pontoon Tern nesting pontoon on Brent Reservoir
Tern pontoon Some adults stay to defend the chicks from gulls.
Tern pontoon The young terns are fluffy brown with white fronts.
Common Tern chick Common Tern chick
Juvenile Common Tern Next stage of juvenile
Common terns Next stage juvenile with adult