COMMON TERN

Photographed at Werribee Wetlands, February 2015.

503          COMMON TERN            Sterna hirundo

Australia         (344)

Despite its name it it not widely 'common' in Australia; Ranges around the coast of the mainland from Broome, across the north and down east coast to Adelaide; breeds across the northern hemisphere and migrates to Australia for the summer. Found in offshore waters, beaches, reefs, bays, estuaries, sandblast, salt fields, sewerage ponds and freshwater wetlands. 32-38 cm, wingspan 80 cm.