Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

California Least tern (Sterna antillarum browni)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Laridae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Long, narrow wings and a broad, forked tail identify the California leat tern. Also have black-capped head and black-tipped, pale gray wings of the least tern contrasst with its white body. It bears a white blaze across its forehead, dark forewings, black-tipped yellow bill, and yellowish feet. Is less the 25 cm when full grown and has 75 cm wingspan.

Lead Region:  California/Nevada Region (Region 8)
Date Listed: Jun 2, 1970

  • States/US Territories in which the California Least tern is known to occur:  California
  • US Counties in which the California Least tern is known to occur:  View All
  • USFWS Refuges in which the California Least tern is known to occur:  DON EDWARDS SAN FRANCISCO BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , GUADALUPE-NIPOMO DUNES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , SAN DIEGO BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , SAN PABLO BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , SEAL BEACH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges
  • Countries in which the the California Least tern is known to occur:  Mexico
  • For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/bolsachica/CLTaccountBC.htm

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 9 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
11/03/2005 70 FR 66842 66844 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.
07/07/2005 70 FR 39327 39329 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain
05/03/2005 70 FR 22898 22899 Availability of Environmental Document and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit ssociated with a Safe Harbor Agreement for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Ormond Beach Property, Ventura County, CA
03/14/2005 70 FR 12496 12498 Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the North County Multiple Species Conservation Program, San Diego, CA

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/27/1985 Revised California Least Tern Recovery Plan View Implementation Progress Final Revision 1
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Completion
    • 11/03/2005 70 FR 66842 66844 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.
  • Notice 5-year Review
  • Notice Comment Period Extension
    • 07/07/2005 70 FR 39327 39329 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/26/2006 California Least Tern 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the California Least tern.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    MHCP, City of Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan
    MSCP, City of Chula Vista Subarea Plan
    MSCP, City of La Mesa Subarea Plan
    MSCP, City of Poway Subarea Plan
    MSCP, City of San Diego Subarea Plan
    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Ormond Beach Property

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the California Least tern.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: February 9, 2010