Least tern (Sterna antillarum)

Kingdom: Animalia

Class: Aves

Order: Ciconiiformes

Family: Laridae

Listing Status:   

Quick links:Federal RegisterRecoveryCritical HabitatConservation PlansPetitionsLife HistoryOther Resources

General Information

Least terns are the smallest member of the gull and tern family. They are approximately 9" in length. Unlike gulls, terns will dive into the water for small fish. The body of least terns is predominately gray and white, with black streaking on the head. Least terns have a forked tail and narrow pointed wings. Least terns less than a year old have less distinctive black streaking on the head and less of a forked tail.

• States/US Territories in which the Least tern, interior pop. is known to occur:  Arkansas , Colorado , Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky , Louisiana , Mississippi , Missouri , Montana , Nebraska , New Mexico , North Dakota , Oklahoma , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas
• USFWS Refuges in which the Least tern, interior pop. is known to occur:  AUDUBON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , AUDUBON WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT , BALD KNOB NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , BIG MUDDY NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE REFUGE , BITTER LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BOYER CHUTE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , BUFFALO LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CHICKASAW NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CROSS CREEKS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CYPRESS CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , DEEP FORK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , DESOTO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , HAGERMAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , HILLSIDE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , LAKE ISOM NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , LAKE NETTIE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , LITTLE RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , LONG LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , LOWER HATCHIE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , MARAIS DES CYGNES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , MATHEWS BRAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , OPTIMA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , OVERFLOW NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , PATOKA RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , QUIVIRA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , RAINWATER BASIN WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT , SALT PLAINS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , SAND LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , SAND LAKE WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT , SEQUOYAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , SQUAW CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , ST. CATHERINE CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , TISHOMINGO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , WASHITA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , YAZOO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges
  
• For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice/endspecies/species/least_tern.htm

» Federal Register Documents

» Recovery

• Information Search FAQs

» Critical Habitat

No critical habitat rules have been published for the Least tern, interior pop..

» Conservation Plans

» Petitions

» 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.