Tern

Terns are <a href="/facts/Seabird/zmMQPeEU">seabirds</a> in the <a href="/facts/Family_(biology)/qTrn6E8E">family</a> <a href="/facts/Laridae/qgQUESKr">Laridae</a>, subfamily Sterninae, that have a worldwide distribution and are normally found near the <a href="/facts/Sea/7eo8zrRW">sea</a>, <a href="/facts/River/GxdjEX21">rivers</a>, or <a href="/facts/Wetland/9abbP7CR">wetlands</a>. Terns are treated in eleven <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genera</a> in a subgroup of the family Laridae, which also includes several genera of <a href="/facts/Gull/ob8yUNmo">gulls</a> and the <a href="/facts/Skimmer_(bird)/67hWnJGL">skimmers</a> (Rynchops). They are slender, lightly built birds with long, forked tails, narrow wings, long bills, and relatively short legs. Most species are pale grey above and white below with a contrasting black cap to the head, but the <a href="/facts/Marsh_tern/QGy5Nfog">marsh terns</a>, the <a href="/facts/Black-bellied_tern/t9AtNwC7">black-bellied tern</a>, the <a href="/facts/Inca_tern/48SHV23o">Inca tern</a>, and some <a href="/facts/Noddy_(tern)/BEAlbCF6">noddies</a> have dark body <a href="/facts/Plumage/7QrTsra5">plumage</a> for at least part of the year. The sexes are identical in appearance, but young birds are readily distinguishable from adults. Terns have a non-breeding plumage, which usually involves a white forehead and much-reduced black cap.
Terns are long-lived birds and are relatively free from natural predators and <a href="/facts/Parasites/HWPcgky7">parasites</a>; most species are declining in numbers due directly or indirectly to human activities, including habitat loss, pollution, disturbance, and predation by <a href="/facts/Introduced_mammal/s0aHefyp">introduced mammals</a>. The <a href="/facts/Chinese_crested_tern/9kCAvc9M">Chinese crested tern</a> is <a href="/facts/Critically_endangered/UI5nTQwF">critically endangered</a> and three other species are classed as <a href="/facts/Endangered_species/L7cIweSW">endangered</a>. International agreements provide a measure of protection, but adults and eggs of some species are still used for food in the tropics.

Tern open-in-new

Tern