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

little tern
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