Terns
Order: Charadriiformes. Family: Sternidae
Terns are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are about 44 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in Ireland plus two Category D species.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gull-billed Tern | Sterna nilotica | (A) |
| Caspian Tern | Sterna caspia | (A) |
| Elegant Tern | Sterna elegans | (A) |
| Lesser Crested Tern | Sterna bengalensis | (A) |
| Sandwich Tern | Sterna sandvicensis | |
| Royal Tern | Sterna maxima | (Cat. D3) |
| Roseate Tern | Sterna dougallii | |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | |
| Arctic Tern | Sterna paradisaea | |
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | (A) |
| Little Tern | Sterna albifrons | |
| Bridled Tern | Sterna anaethetus | (Cat. D3) |
| Sooty Tern | Sterna fuscata | (A) |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybridus | (A) |
| White-winged Tern | Chlidonias leucopterus | (A) |
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger |
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Ireland