Least Tern Identification

Breeding adult

Smallest North American tern, with a yellow bill and white forehead. In flight, note pointed wings and black outer edge on the primaries.

Breeding adult

Smallest tern in North America. Thin yellow bill and yellow legs during the breeding season help separate it from similar species.

Breeding adult

Very small, neatly marked tern with white forehead and yellow bill (often with black tip).

Nonbreeding adult

Breeding adult

Small with narrow, pointed wings. Breeding birds have a black crown and a white forehead. In flight, note black edge on outer flight feathers.

Immature

Immature birds have a small smudgy black patch behind the eye and a dark bill unlike adults, but they still have yellow legs.

Juvenile

Very small tern. Juveniles have a barred or scaly looking back and yellow legs. The crown patch on this bird is small and smudgy brown; others can have a darker black partial crown.

Nonbreeding adult

Immature

Breeding adult

Habitat

Habitat

Found along seacoasts, beaches, bays, estuaries, lagoons, lakes, and rivers. Breeds on sandy or gravelly beaches and banks of rivers or lakes.