Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Locally common Summer visitors from April-October with 14,500 breeding pairs on inland lakes & coastal sites in Britain, plus 4,000 in Ireland.

Winters in Africa.

Breeding Adults have pale grey upperparts, very pale grey underparts, a black cap, orange-red legs, and a narrow pointed bill that can be mostly red with a black tip.

Upper wings are pale grey, but as the summer wears on, the dark feather shafts of the outer flight feathers become exposed, and a grey wedge appears on the wings.

Winter birds the forehead and underparts become white, the bill is all black or black with a red base, and the legs are dark red or black.

Juveniles have pale grey upper wings with a dark carpal bar.

The call is a KEE-yah.