The Common tern

The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is a bird in the sternidae family. Medium in size, it is fairly easily distinguished from the other two main species of terns in France by its bright red beak, sometimes orange, ending in a black tip.

Its nesting area is very wide, North America, Atlantic islands, Europe, West Africa, Middle East. He is a strict migrant who winters on the African coast.

The Common Tern is essentially subservient to aquatic environments.

In France, it is observed from the beginning of April, its distribution being both coastal and fluvial. The colonies are present in small numbers on all the coasts as well as on the Loire and the Allier.

It nests mainly on sandy islets with little vegetation, but also on artificial structures, dikes, rafts, factory roofs. Colonial and gregarious species, it forms groups of a few individuals to several hundred couples, sometimes in mixed colony with avocets, seagulls or other terns.

Essentially fish-eating, it captures its prey, small fish, sometimes shrimp, by diving to the surface. Very occasionally it feeds on insects. Adults can make trips of several kilometers depending on the availability of prey.

It nests directly on the ground in a very basic nest, often a simple bowl, in which it lays one to three eggs. After three weeks of incubation, the young semi-homeless remain close to the nest and are fed by both parents for more than three weeks. Egg laying generally takes place from April to June. If the eggs or the young are destroyed, the individuals are able to lay eggs for replacement, and it is not uncommon to observe the last young in flight in early September.

Quite soon after takeoff, the families leave the breeding site, before starting their migration in September-October.