Birds of Brazil

    CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Skimmers)  
Genus: Sterna (5 species, 13 worldwide)


South American Tern
South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea)
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina
  Note red legs and bill on adult and relative large size.
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.


Common Tern
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Delta Dunaja, Vadu, Romania  
   
Photograph by Andrej Chudy     Copyright and usage info

Common Tern
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo hirundo)
Jones Beach SP, Nassau County, New York, United States  
   
Photograph by Graham Montgomery   © All Rights Reserved.

In breeding plumage looks like a Forster's Tern, with black cap and orange and black bill. Look for black in the wings on the Common Tern, seen on some tips here. The Common Tern has a black bill in non-breeding plumage, and unlike other terns is often far out at sea, and not on the beach.

Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Farne Island, England  
   
Photograph by Francesco Veronesi     Copyright and usage info

Known for having the one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom, from the northern arctic to Antarctica.

Snowy-crowned Tern
Snowy-crowned Tern (Sterna trudeaui)
Montevideo, Uruguay
  Note yellow bill tip. In breeding plumage the base of bill is red.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Antarctic Tern
Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata)
Western Cape, South Africa
  Migrates from Arctic to Antarctic.
   
Photograph by Graham Searll   © All Rights Reserved.



© Tom Friedel - All Rights Reserved, except for images and data otherwise noted.       Colombia       Panama       Ecuador       Costa Rica       Mexico
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