Common Tern

A pointed-winged fishing bird of summer harbours and bays.

A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.

I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Season first

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go: Mainly spring to autumn
Where to start: Safe public harbour walls and coastal viewpoints.
What to do when you arrive: In spring and summer, watch pointed-winged birds plunge-diving from public shorelines. Compare bill colour and proportions with Arctic Tern, staying away from nesting platforms.

Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

SPECIES NOTESSpecies notes

How to identify it

Adults have a black cap, usually black-tipped red bill, red legs and pale grey body. Longer-legged and longer-billed than Arctic Tern, often with darker outer wings. Bill-tip colour alone is insufficient.

Habitat

Bays, harbours, coastal waters and offshore islands.

Behaviour

Hovers before plunge-diving for small fish and breeds colonially.

When to look

Mainly spring to autumn

Where to look

Safe public harbour walls and coastal viewpoints.

Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.

Further reading:BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · Wikipedia ↗

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