Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

About 12,000 pairs breed in the UK. Unlike many of the other birds on the Bird Wise site these do not migrate to us in winter, but arrive in summer to breed. They do not build a nest but instead create a small depression in the shingle on our beaches and lay between 2 and 4 eggs. They also can be found much further inland than the rest of our coastal birds as they use gravel pits, reservoirs and lakes. Arriving around April they begin to leave in August. They can live up to 12 years. Unfortunately, due to beach disturbance in their breeding colonies very few young have survived in Kent over the last few years.

The UK has five types of Tern, Common, Sandwich, Little, Arctic and Roseate which regularly migrate here, they are similar in appearance. All have forked tails and delicate swept back pointed wings which make them look a little like swallows in flight.

Common Terns have a black cap which extends across the head at eye level and in summer stretches about halfway down the back of their neck. Their beak is red with a black tip. Body is pale grey on top white underneath with black edged wing feathers at the top trailing edge. They are very exciting to watch as they fish for food for their chicks as they will circle over water looking directly downwards, when they spot fish they then and drive into the water folding their wings back to become streamline at the last minute.

Common Terns are on the Amber list for Birds of Conservation Concern.

Find out about other migratory birds found in North Kent.