Home › Aves › Laridae › Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
SPECIES PROFILE
Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
Sternula
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Coastal India Europe Africa
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Coastal beaches estuaries rivers
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
Laridae
GENUS
Sternula
📋 Description
SIZE
22-24 cm long 40-60 g
COLORATION
White with black cap in breeding season greyish above
ADAPTATIONS
Slender wings and forked tail for agile diving
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Coastal beaches estuaries rivers
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Coastal India Europe Africa
REPRODUCTION
Lays 2-3 eggs in ground scrapes incubated 18-22 days
DIET DETAILS
Fish small crustaceans insects
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Coastal development human disturbance
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Skimming Divers: Little Terns hover and dive with 50-gram bodies catching 20 grams of fish daily along Pulicat's shores. Their black caps signal breeding.
2
Migratory Marvels: These terns travel 10000 km across Chilika's coasts covering 2000 sq km. Beach erosion threatens their nesting sites.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Pulicat Lake in Tamil Nadu coastal waters host little tern sightings
Chilika Lake in Odisha estuaries offer little tern sightings
Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu coral reefs have little tern sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Watch for little terns diving near shorelines at midday
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
November-March Dry season improves visibility on coasts for spotting terns
