Courtesy of Kenn Kaufman Common Terns breed from northwestern
Canada southward to Montana, and eastward to Newfoundland and
New Jersey, southward along the Atlantic Coast to Louisiana.
They winter primarily in Argentina, Brazil, and other parts of
South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. A legend for the
range map to the right can be found here Common Terns are found
in a variety of fresh- and salt-water habitats, including
estuaries, bays, lakes, and marshes. They nest on islands,
marshes, and sometimes lake and ocean beaches. Common Terns feed
primarily on small fish; they also eat invertebrates such as
shrimp and other crustaceans, insects, marine worms, leeches,
and small squid. Common Terns breed in colonies, and nest on the
ground; nests consist of a shallow scrape or depression,
sometimes lined with grasses, seaweed, or shells. They usually
lay up to 3 olive-buff eggs, marked with numerous dark brown
blotches. Both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young.
Incubation lasts 3 to 4 weeks. The do