Common Tern

Seen one? Add it to your free UK BirdedexHear its song and see the mapFree, no app download. Uncommon bird: +3 points when you log it.

Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Coast and inland gravel pits.
Diet: Small fish.
Best time to spot: Red bill with black tip.

When to look

A summer visitor, typically in the UK from April to September. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in British seabirds.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Common Tern sits in our Uncommon tier for the UK: regular, but you usually need the right place or the right season. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Arctic TernUncommon · Northern coasts (summer)
• Roseate TernRare · Few breeding colonies
• Forster's TernLegendary · Estuaries (extreme vagrant)
• White WagtailUncommon · Coast
• Little Ringed PloverUncommon · Gravel pits
• SmewRare · Gravel pits

Tell it apart

Side-by-side ID guides: Common Tern vs Arctic Tern.

Kit that helps

Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.