Little Tern

Latin Name: 
Sterna albifrons
Size: 
23cm
Description: 

A tiny tern with white forehead and black-tipped yellow bill. Pale grey back and wings with dark outer primary. Forehead patch extends as point above eye. Yellow legs. In non-breeding plumage, bill black and black crown reduced. Sexes alike. Similar but marine Saunder’s Tern S. saundersi has square-ended forehead patch, more black in primaries and browner legs.

Habitat: 
Inhabits sandy coasts, large rivers and lakes.
Distribution: 
Local breeder in north, southern coasts and Sri Lanka. Disperseswidely, mainlytocoasts, innon-breeding season.
Call: 
Call Description: 
A high, hurried kink…kink.
National Status: