In the spotlight: Little tern

The Little Tern occurs in Belgium in small numbers. They reach about 25 cm in length with a wingspan of around 50 cm. This makes the Little Tern the smallest tern in our country. Little Terns mainly eat small fish and shrimps. 

By “hovering” low over the water and performing diving flights, they catch the fish or shrimps. The Little Tern has a white plumage combined with a light grey back. The top of the head is black, with a black band running over the eye to the bill. The bill is yellow with a black tip. The legs of the Little Tern are orange-yellow. Even outside the breeding season, Little Terns are almost exclusively seen along the coast. 

The spring migration mainly takes place between mid-April and the end of May. On good migration days, several hundred birds may pass through. The autumn migration, which involves lower numbers, occurs between early July and mid-September. Some birds may migrate over land at night.

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