Bird · GBIF taxon 5789285
Least Tern
Sternula antillarumThe Least Tern is a tiny, quick-winged coastal tern with a yellow bill and white forehead in breeding plumage. It hovers before plunging for small fish and lays camouflaged eggs in shallow scrapes on open sand or gravel.
Small TernPlunge DiverGround Nester
Licensed reference(c) Kathy Richardson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Anchovies
- Silversides
- Shrimp
Predators
- Gulls
- Foxes
- Peregrine falcons
ThreatsBeach development, recreation, vehicles, pets, flooding, predators, and declining forage fish
HabitatsSandy beaches, barrier islands, river sandbars, salt flats, gravel roofs, and lagoons
Life spanOften 8 to 15 years, with some individuals exceeding 20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyLaridae
- SpeciesSternula antillarum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Respect all colony closures; eggs and chicks are nearly invisible on open ground.
Responsible observation
- Flight: Watch for hovering followed by a shallow plunge.
- Nesting: Stay outside marked buffers and keep pets leashed far away.
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