National Audubon Society. Terns are among the most common water birds of ocean and coastal zones. Species live inland on every continent and in all major bodies of water. The common tern lives in all parts of the Northern Hemisphere as well as in South America and Africa. Terns are generally smaller than their counterparts, Gulls.
Terns are white to gray with white underparts.
Terns can hover over the water and plunge for their food, however in most cases they will not rest or swim in the water. Surprisingly, they are scavengers and will eat live or dead fish as well as any other fresh or rotting food found in or near the water. They are sociable birds and nest in colonies of thousands. The arctic tern is not easily distinguished from the common tern except for one small detail. Migration for any tern is usually a long one.