Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:hirundo recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
33 cm
Wingspan:
88 cm
Weight:
M/F: 130 g
Scientific name from:
Old English: stearn=a tern
and L.: hirundo=the swallow
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Eurasia & North America, WINTERS: s Europe, s Asia, Africa, Australia & South America
Habitat:
Sandy seacoasts, in winter marshes, estuaries
Diet:
Mostly fish, also cristaceans in some areas, mostly by plunge-diving
TitBit:
Remarkably similar to the Arctic Tern, they are often both referred to as 'commic' terns, but a dark-tipped bill, paler plumage and shorter tail streamers should help identify this bird; it also frequently nests inland, unlike its cousin.
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
JNCC Seabird Monitoring Programme
Distribution:
No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
Summer:
10 thousand pairs
in 1998-02
First Record:
7th Century
Latest Survey:
Mitchell, P.I. et al. (2004) Seabird populations of Britain and Ireland Poyser, London
Other Names
Order:
Charadriiformes
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