Common Tern

Audio:

The Common Tern is a small elegant tern. It prefers to breed in colonies and the nests are fiercely defended. If you come too close, you have to run. Otherwise there is the risk of getting wounded by the sharp beak.

Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterna_hirundo

Map:

http://eol.org/pages/1049639/maps

Scientific name:

Sterna hirundo

Presence in western Europe:

Common

More information

Size:

Pigeon

Birdtype:

gulls or terns

Main colour:

Light grey,

White

Beak colour:

Red

Beak shape:

Solid and short

Crown colour:

Black

Breast colour:

White

Belly colour:

White

Throat colour:

White

Rump colour:

White

Upperwing colour:

Light grey

Underwing colour:

White

Wing stripe colour:

Black

Wing shape:

Pointed

Leg colour:

Red

Leg shape:

Webbed

Tail colour:

White

Tail shape:

Forked long

Looks like

Sandwich Tern

Read more about Sandwich Tern

The Sandwich Tern has a black beak with a yellow tip. The beak of the Common Tern is red.

Arctic Tern

Read more about Arctic Tern

The Common Tern has a light-red beak, often with a black tip at the end.