196 
British Birds. 
THE 
COMMON TERN. 
(Sterna fluviatilis ) 
The members of the genus Sterna all have a very slender 
and pointed bill, and a long and forked tail. The tarsus is 
short, and is less than the length of the middle toe and claw. 
The Common Tern is of a pearl -grey colour above, white under- 
neath, with a black cap ; the bill is coral-red, tipped with black. In winter the head 
is white with the hinder crown more or less black. Young birds may be told by a 
dark grey band along the wing-coverts ; otherwise they resemble the winter plumage 
of the adults. The species breeds as far north as the Isle of Skye on the west, and 
the Moray Firth on the east of Scotland, its place being taken to the northward by 
the Arctic Tern. It is also found nesting on the islands off most of the coasts of 
Ireland as well as on inland lakes in many of the counties. It nests in most parts 
The Arctic Tern. The Common Tern. 
of Europe, both on the coast and on inland lakes, and is also found through Central 
Asia to Cashmere and Thibet. It also breeds throughout temperate North America 
as far south as Texas. In winter it is found in Brazil and on the coasts of Africa 
and India. 
The food of this species consists principally of small fish, for which it hunts in 
company, continually dipping into the water with a graceful flight, which has gained 
for the birds the name of ‘ Sea-Swallows.’ They also nest in company on the shingle, 
making a depression in the sand. The eggs are three in number, rarely four, varying 
from stone-colour to ochreous-buff or rufous brown, with black spots and markings, 
more or less distinct according to the light or dark colour of the egg : the length is 
an inch-and-a-half to an inch-and-three-quarters. 
