🌿Native Nature

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Aves ›Order: Charadriiformes ›Family: Laridae ›Genus: Sterna

About

The common tern (Sterna hirundo) is a seabird in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, its four subspecies breeding in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. Breeding adults have light grey upperparts, white to very light grey underparts, a black cap, orange-red legs, and a narrow pointed bill. Depending on the subspecies, the bill may be mostly red...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Common Tern?
The scientific name of Common Tern is Sterna hirundo.
What is the conservation status of Common Tern?
The Common Tern has a conservation status of Least Concern.
What kingdom does Common Tern belong to?
Common Tern belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Common Tern belong to?
Common Tern belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Common Tern belong to?
Common Tern belongs to the class Aves.
What order does Common Tern belong to?
Common Tern belongs to the order Charadriiformes.
What family does Common Tern belong to?
Common Tern belongs to the family Laridae.
What genus does Common Tern belong to?
Common Tern belongs to the genus Sterna.

In the News

How an Artificial Island Led to the Rebound of a Declining Waterbird in Maryland

In the coastal bays of Ocean City, Maryland, a floating wooden raft has become a thriving nesting colony for hundreds of sleek, silver-grey Common Terns – a remarkable conservation success story...

Audubon · 9/14/2026

On the Wing: An Intern’s Experience in Bird Research and Conservation

From boating out to Popasquash Island for Common Terns to banding sessions at the Green Mountain Audubon Center to early-morning survey sessions throughout the Champlain Valley, my summer became a...

Audubon · 8/17/2026