Little Tern Sterna albifrons Sternula albifrons- some photos and notes

Little Tern Sternula albifrons
(aka Sterna albifrons)

Little Tern, Micahelmas Key, Queensland, Australia, November 2010 - click for larger image

Michaelmas Key, Queensland, Australia
November 2010

The Little Tern breeds in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Northern populations migrate southwards during the northern winter and Australian breeders are probably joined by migrants from eastern Asia.

In non-breeding plumage the bill is entirely black as opposed to yellow with a black tip and the crown is white to grey as opposed to black. For photos of Little Tern in breeding plumage see my European page.

The Little Tern is often seen hovering above the surface of the sea before diving down to catch its prey as in photo 2.

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