A small and elegant seabird that captures attention with its delicate appearance and graceful flight. Found across Europe, Asia, and Australia, this bird prefers coastal habitats like sandy beaches, estuaries, and lagoons. Its small size, striking black cap, white body, and yellow bill make it easy to recognize. Despite its small stature, the little tern is a resilient and resourceful species, perfectly adapted to life along the shore.
One of the most remarkable traits of the little tern is its hunting style. These birds are excellent fishers, diving headfirst into shallow waters to catch small fish and other aquatic prey. They are incredibly agile in the air, hovering over the water with precision before plunging in to secure their meal. Watching a little tern hunt is a fascinating sight—it showcases their skill and energy in sustaining their lively and active nature.
Little terns are also known for their social behavior. They often nest in colonies, which provides safety in numbers and increases the chances of spotting predators early. Their nests, called scrapes, are shallow depressions in the sand or gravel, lined with small pebbles or shells. While these nests are simple, they serve as a safe place to lay eggs and raise chicks. The adults are highly protective and will aggressively defend their nests by dive-bombing intruders, including much larger animals.
The little tern’s breeding season is one of the most crucial times in its life cycle. During this period, the male performs an elaborate courtship display to win over a mate. This includes aerial acrobatics and presenting small fish as gifts. Once paired, the male and female share responsibilities like incubating eggs and feeding chicks, working together as a team to ensure the survival of their young.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bosnia And Herz.
British Indian T.
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Chad
China
Colombia
Congo-Brazzaville
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
East Timor
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Guam
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Niger
Nigeria
Nort. Mariana Is.
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Turkey
UAE
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
YemenAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
