Scientific name: Sterna paradisaea
The Arctic tern is a medium-sized bird. The beak is dark red, as are the short legs and webbed feet. Like most terns, the Arctic tern has high aspect ratio wings and a tail with a deep fork. The adult plumage is grey above, with a black nape and crown and white cheeks. The upperwings are pale grey, with the area near the wingtip being translucent. The tail is white, and the underparts pale grey. Both sexes are similar in appearance. The winter plumage is similar, but the crown is whiter and the bills are darker.
Within southern Africa it is uncommon off the west coast, while more scarce further out to sea and off the southern and eastern coast of the region.
Mainly eats small fish, doing most of its foraging by rapidly flying over the sea, hovering once it spots prey before plunge-diving into the water.
