tern; common tern
Refers to terns, especially the common tern (Sterna hirundo).
I saw a tern catching fish at the shore.
roseate tern
sooty tern
Katakana spelling is standard for this bird name.
Rare kanji spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling is also used.
The name likely derives from the bird's feeding behavior, but the exact etymology is uncertain.