Least Tern Photo Gallery
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.
© Sam Miller / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, May 27, 2019Breeding adult
Smallest tern in North America. Thin yellow bill and yellow legs during the breeding season help separate it from similar species.
© Jonathan Eckerson / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, August 02, 2015Breeding adult
Very small, neatly marked tern with white forehead and yellow bill (often with black tip).
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, June 27, 2010Not all videos have soundBreeding 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.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, July 01, 2019Immature
Immature birds have a small smudgy black patch behind the eye and a dark bill unlike adults, but they still have yellow legs.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 28, 2019Juvenile
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.
© Harlan Stewart / Macaulay LibraryTexas, June 27, 2020Habitat
Found along seacoasts, beaches, bays, estuaries, lagoons, lakes, and rivers. Breeds on sandy or gravelly beaches and banks of rivers or lakes.
© Amiel Hopkins / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, June 11, 2020Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
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