Little Tern ( In Foreground )

Description:

This is the smallest tern in the Australasian region, but is very similar in size, shape and plumage to the fairy tern, Sternula nereis. Its length is 20-28cm and its wingspan is 45-55cm. The tail is moderately long and forked, and is slightly shorter than the wing-tips when the bird is at rest. It has a distinctive breeding plumage with black crown and nape and narrow black wedge from eye to bill. Its white forehead extends back over the eye as a narrow eyebrow, and its bill and legs are yellow. Its bill usually has a black tip. The sexes are indistinguishable. Non-breeding birds have a black bill and legs, with a greatly receded black crown.

Habitat:

The little tern is mainly found in coastal environments, including beaches, sheltered inlets, estuaries, lakes, bays and harbours, especially where exposed sandbanks or sand spits occur. It is sometimes found on offshore continental islands or coral cays. Breeding habitat includes sand spits or islets in sheltered coastal environments such as estuaries and inlets, and also sandy ocean beaches, with nests occasionally built in sand dunes. It may also occasionally nest on coral cays. Its distribution includes all continents. In Australia, it occurs in all coastal areas except the south-west and southern parts of Western Australia, the western half of South Australia and western shores of Tasmania. It is scarce in south-eastern Australia in winter, apparently because Asian birds depart to breed and local birds migrate north along the coast.