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Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

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Field Notes

Description:

This is small seabird, vaguely resembling Black-headed Gull in colours (but smaller), and is often confused with Gulls and overlooked, as they often share habitats. However, the differences are noticeable: their overall appearance is white or very light grey, and they sport black caps and bright-orange to red long and narrow bills. Legs are bright orange. In summer, the wing covers tend to be grey.

Habitat:

During our stay in Brittany, we observed these sternes regularly, and usually we would see few birds mixed with, or in proximity of gulls, and often in intertidal zones in urban areas. However, the best viewing of flocks of terns we had in three marshes in Morbihan bay - all three marshes are saline, lowland marshes and very close to the coast and ocean; and all three are protected natural reserves. In one of them, the one near the castle of Suscinio, we observed large flock of terns, flocking with avocets...

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