Where do they live?
Little Terns live in coastal areas and can occasionally be found further inland using harbours, inlets and rivers. You are most likely to see one on the Northern Beaches in coastal areas such as the Long Reef Rock Platform.
What do they eat?
They often feed in groups, foraging on fish, crustaceans, insects, worms and molluscs by diving into shallow estuaries and tidal channels, working the breakers along beaches, or gliding just above the water’s surface.
What do they look like?
Little Terns are small and slender with a black cap and black outer wing edges and a deeply forked tail. They have pale grey upperparts and white chest and belly.
In the breeding season, their bill and legs change from black to yellow and a black wedge appears from the bill to the eye.
How can you support Little Terns?
- Keeping pets indoors, especially at night: Cat predation is one of the largest threats to dune-nesting seabirds.
- Get involved in citizen science: Use apps like iNaturalist to help researchers track where birds are occurring and how populations are changing over time.
- Do your part to reduce pollution by cutting down on single-use plastics: skip bags and straws in favor of reusable alternatives. Always dispose of rubbish properly, and if you spot litter, especially along the coast, take a moment to pick it up.
- Join local cleanups: Participate in or organise local cleanups of streams, rivers, or beaches to remove trash before it can enter the water.
- Fish responsibly: be aware when casting your line and always dispose of fishing line and hooks properly.
Fun facts
- Little Tern nests are almost invisible. They create a shallow scrape in the sand, sometimes adding shell grit, seaweed or small pebbles. Their speckled eggs and chicks blend so well with the surrounding sand that they are almost impossible to spot.
- They are Australia's smallest Tern species.