Common name: Common Tern
Scientific name: Sterna hirundo
Family: Laridae

Size:
Body length: 31–35 cm
Wingspan: 77–98 cm
Weight: 95–150 g

Identification:
A slender, elegant seabird with long pointed wings and a deeply forked tail. In breeding plumage, it shows a clean black cap, pale grey upperparts, and white underparts. The bill is bright red with a black tip, and the legs are short and reddish. In non-breeding plumage, the forehead becomes white and the bill appears darker. In flight, it is graceful and buoyant, often seen hovering briefly before diving.

Habitat:
Coastal areas, estuaries, lagoons, and inland wetlands. Frequently seen over open water or resting on sandbars and islands.

Status in the UAE:
Common passage migrant. Regularly observed during spring and autumn migration along coastlines and wetlands.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds mainly on small fish and aquatic invertebrates, caught by plunge-diving into the water.

Behavior:
Highly aerial and agile, often hovering before diving to catch prey. Usually seen singly or in small groups, but may gather in larger flocks during migration. Known for its loud, sharp calls and energetic flight.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)