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Species › Birds

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Laridae
Presence in the Strait
Migrant
Abundance
common
Protection in Spain
Special protection (List)
In Spanish
Charrán común

Marine taxonomy: validated in WoRMS, AphiaID 137162

34% of its open observations in the area are from September.

Photograph: Bill Keim, CC BY, vía iNaturalist

Length
31–35 cm
Wingspan
82–95 cm
Weight
130 g
020406080100LENGTH31–35 cmWINGSPAN82–95 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Common migrant to coasts. Some occasionally winter.

Identification

Medium-sized, agile flight. Fishes without diving. Similar to an Arctic Tern and a Roseate Tern but with wings that are longer than its tail when perched. Summer plumage shows grey upperparts, pale grey underparts, black forehead, crown and nape, forked tail, red bill with black tip and red legs. Winter plumage shows white forehead and black bill. Juveniles have gingery back and forehead, orange legs and lower mandible, and dark carpal bar.

Movements

Peaks in 2nd hf. March and 2nd hf. August.

Ring recoveries

Finland (2), Holland (2), Norway (1), United Kingdom (1) and Russia (1).

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.