Common tern: Birds of Britain

Posted in Animals, Birds, Nature, Wildlife on Monday, 28 February 2011

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Common Tern. The Royal Natural History, ed Richard Lydekker

Common Tern. The Royal Natural History, ed Richard Lydekker

During the breeding season, the male common tern flies around with a fish in its beak on the look-out for a mate. When it finds a suitable female, it presents the fish to the hen. After a few days in the nest, the chicks leave to hide in the vegetation nearby, leaving both parents free to hunt for fish for the young. In dense terneries other adult birds ruthlessly harry the successful hunter for its catch.

This edited article originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 909 published on 23 June 1979. Click on a picture to find out more about licensing images for commercial or personal/educational use. We are also able to license textual material. Please contact us for details.

 

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