Terns are seabirds in the family Laridae, subfamily Sterninae, that have a worldwide distribution and are normally found near the sea, rivers, or wetlands. Terns are treated in eleven genera in a subgroup of the family Laridae, which also includes several genera of …

They dive towards the water picking off fish just below the surface. 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.

This bird has a circumpolar distribution, its four subspecies breeding in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory , wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions.

One of four very similar terns on this continent. The species lives up to its name as a 'common' tern mainly in the northeast; over much of the continent, it is outnumbered by the similar Forster's Tern. Also widespread in the Old World.

Aug 2, 2015 · Smallest North American tern, with a yellow bill and white forehead. In flight, note pointed wings and black outer edge on the primaries. Smallest tern in North America. Thin yellow bill and yellow legs during the breeding season help separate it from similar species.

Tern, any of about 40 species of slender, graceful water birds that constitute the subfamily Sterninae, of the family Laridae, which also includes the gulls. Terns inhabit seacoasts and inland waters and are nearly worldwide in distribution.

Use this tipsheet to distinguish between the United States’ four big terns: Caspian, Royal, Elegant, and Sandwich. To check out all our tern species, see Audubon's Guide to North American Birds. And for IDing birds on the go, download Audubon's free bird guide app.

These delightful silvery-grey and white birds have long tails which have earned them the nickname 'sea-swallow'. They have a graceful, floating flight and frequently hover over water before plunging down for fish. They often gather and breed in noisy groups. The Common Tern is the tern species most often found inland.

There are at least seventeen types of terns including the native and vagrant species that have been seen in North America. These different types are closely matched, with a portion seen over different areas of the continent and the other seen around the coastlines and out at sea.

Arctic terns are long-lived birds, with many reaching fifteen to thirty years of age. They eat mainly fish and small marine invertebrates. The species is abundant, with an estimated two million individuals.