Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii dougallii)

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

Listing Status:    and  

General Information

The roseate tern is about 4O centimeters in length, with light-gray wings and back. Its first three or four primaries are black and so is its cap. The rest of the body is white, with a rosy tinge on the chest and belly during the breeding season. The tail is deeply forked, and the outermost streamers extend beyond the folded wings when perched. During the breeding season the basal three-fourths of the otherwise entirely black bill and legs turn orange-red.

Population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Roseate tern 

  • Population location: U.S.A. (Atlantic Coast south to NC), Canada (Newf., N.S, Que.), Bermuda
    Listing status:  Endangered
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:  Connecticut , Maine , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , Rhode Island , Virginia
    • USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:  ELIZABETH ALEXANDRA MORTON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , MASHPEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , MONOMOY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , NINIGRET NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , PETIT MANAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges
    • Countries in which the this population is known to occur:  Canada
    • For more information:  http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/life_histories/B07O.html
  • Population location: Western Hemisphere and adjacent oceans, incl. U.S.A. (FL, PR, VI), where not listed as endangered
    Listing status:  Threatened
    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:  Florida , Georgia , North Carolina , Puerto Rico , South Carolina , Virgin Islands
    • USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:  CULEBRA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , KEY WEST NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , VIEQUES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
    • Countries in which the this population is known to occur:  Bermuda
    • For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/endangered/i/b/sab6h.html
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
11/02/1987 Northeast Region (Region 5) northeast U.S. nesting pop.
11/02/1987 Southeast Region (Region 4) Western Hemisphere except NE U.S.

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 4 of 4 )
Date Citation Page Title
12/16/2008 73 FR 76373 76375 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 7 Listed Species: Notice of review; request for information
11/02/1987 52 FR 42064 42068 Determination of Endangered and Threatened Status for 2 Populations of Roseate Tern; 52 FR 42064-42068
11/04/1986 51 FR 40047 40051 Proposed Endangered and Threatened Status for 2 Populations of Roseate Tern; 51 FR 40047-40051
12/30/1982 47 FR 58454 58460 Review of Vertebrate Wildlife for Listing as End. or Thr. Species

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
11/05/1998 Roseate Tern (NE U.S/Canada) View Implementation Progress Final Revision 1
09/24/1993 Recovery Plan Caribbean Roseate Tern (sterna dougallii) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
12/16/2008 73 FR 76373 76375 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 7 Listed Species: Notice of review; request for information
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation

    • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Roseate tern.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    HCP Plan Summaries
    WindMar RE Project

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Roseate 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: November 22, 2009