Common tern vs White-fronted tern
The common tern is heavier: 129.2 g against 129 g for the white-fronted tern, about 0% more.
Photo: Alexis Lours · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Lynda from New Zealand · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
What is the difference between a common tern and a white-fronted tern?
Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.
- The common tern is heavier: 129.2 g against 129 g for the white-fronted tern, about 0% more.
- Both belong to the genus Sterna, so they are close relatives.
- The common tern is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List; the white-fronted tern is Near Threatened.
Side by side
| Common tern | White-fronted tern | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sterna hirundo | Sterna striata |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Weight | 124 g – 129.2 g | 125.8 g – 131.9 g |
| Length | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | 33 years | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Habitat | marine | coastal |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Countries recorded | Not recorded | 1 |
A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.
Full record: Common ternFull record: White-fronted ternCompare other animals