From Opus

Photo by John Dempsey
Photographed in Cuba.

Sterna antillarum

[edit] Identification

L. 22-24cm

• Pale grey upperparts
• White underparts
• White lower head
• Black cap down to the level of the eyes
• White front of head that intersects black back to above eyes
• Yellow bill that becomes black outside of breeding season
• Yellow legs
• Grey wings with black markings on outermost primaries

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in coastal and inland North America north to California and Maine, in Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America (mainly islands off Venezuela). Northern birds migrate, and the species is found to Brazil in winter.

[edit] Taxonomy

An increasing number of authorities place Least Tern in genus Sternula, but not quite enough for Opus to follow.
Least Tern is closely related to, and was formerly often considered conspecific with, the Little Tern S. albifrons of the Old World. Other close relatives include the Yellow-billed Tern S. superciliaris and Peruvian Tern S. lorata, both from South America.

[edit] Habitat

Breeds and winters in coastal areas, and to some extent uses inland waters such as rivers. Migrates along coasts but also more pelagic.

[edit] Behaviour

Mostly feeds on fish caught with plunge-dives, but can also take insects in the air.

Normally nests colonially.

[edit] External Links

• An identification essay comparing Least Tern with Yellow-billed Tern