Terns are fast-flying coastal birds in the family Sternidae, which includes some 42 species. Most species of terns are found in the tropics and subtropics, but these birds occur on all continents. They range from the limits
Royal terns (Thalasseus maximus) on Estero Island, Florida.
Terns are slender birds with long, pointed wings, and are adept fliers. Their tail is usually forked to some degree, and their bill is sharply pointed. The usual coloration is some combination of white, gray, and/or black. The smallest species is the little tern (Sterna albifrons), which is only 9 in (23 cm) in body length and 1.8 oz (50 g) in weight. The largest species is the Caspian tern (Hydro…
Fourteen species of terns breed regularly in North America. The most abundant species is the common tern (Sterna hirundo), which also breeds widely in Eurasia. The breeding range of this species is from the subarctic, to the Great Lakes and temperate regions of the Atlantic coast. The common tern winters from southern parts of coastal North America through to southern South America. This tern has …
During the nineteenth century, many species of terns were rapaciously hunted for their plumage, which was valuable at the time for decorating the clothing of fashionable ladies. Sometimes, an artistic statement was made by mounting an entire, stuffed tern onto a broad-brimmed, lady's hat. Fortunately, the plumage of terms or other birds is not much used for these purposes any more. In many …
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