The Common Tern is the most widespread tern in North America, spending its winters as far south as Argentina and Chile. They are social birds, foraging in groups and nesting on the ground in colonies.

Common Terns nest on rocky islands, barrier beaches, and saltmarshes and forage over open waters. Terns often gather over warmer waters with high densities of American sand lance (a small fish) in the spring, and tuna that help scare up smaller fish in the fall.

Breeding in a wider range of habitats than any of its relatives, the common tern nests on any flat, poorly vegetated surface close to water, including beaches and islands, and it readily adapts to artificial substrates such as floating rafts.

The Common Tern is the most widespread tern in North America, spending its winters as far south as Argentina and Chile. They are social birds, foraging in groups and nesting on the ground in colonies.

A common tern’s nest is a simple scrape in the ground, often lined with small stones, shells, and vegetation to provide some insulation and camouflage. Because it’s a simple scrape nest, they can often build them in just a few days, typically 1 – 3 days.

Incubation is by both parents (female may do more), 21-25 days. Leave nest after a few days but remain nearby, are fed by both parents. Age at first flight about 22-28 days; may remain with parents another 2 months or more. One brood per year, rarely two. Forages mostly by flying over water, hovering, and plunging to catch prey below surface.

Feb 24, 2024 · Terns build very minimal nests or none at all, choosing instead to lay their eggs on bare ground. Do Terns Make Nests? Most tern species do not build substantial nests. They lay their eggs directly onto the bare ground, sand, or gravel substrate of their breeding colonies.

Lifecycle and body size information about Common Tern, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

The White Tern nests in colonies, with several pairs often nesting close together on the same ledge or branch. The male and female work together to build the nest, which is a simple structure made of twigs and other debris.

Mar 21, 2025 · If you thought the Killdeer nesting choice was bordering on dangerous, spare a thought for the chicks of the White Tern. Breeding birds do not build a nest at all. This is very rare in the avian world and even more dangerous than ground nesting birds like grouse, quail and shorebirds. White Terns inhabit warm, tropical, and subtropical marine ...