little tern
Sterna albifrons
European conservation concern
Key facts
Tiny tern with distinctive white forehead
Habitat: sea, estuaries and adjacent freshwater
Summer visitor to UK where it breeds in small numbers, declining mainly because of disturbance of its vulnerable nests
Recognition
Grey upperparts, white below; yellow legs, black cap with white forehead, yellow bill with black tip
Flies with quick wingbeats and can often be seen diving for fish
Eats fish
Lifecycle
Nest is a bare scrape on shingle near sea; winters in Africa
1 Brood May to June; 2-3 eggs olive brown
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