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California Least Tern

Sterna antillarum browni

Photo by Jellis
Published on Project Noah
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37.7829, -122.318

Field Notes

Description:

Least Terns are the smallest of the Terns in the world at 9 inches. Migratory, showing up here in the Bay Area April-May. They are grey on the back and white underneath. The black across the eyes, cap and nape with patch of white on the forehead. The bill is yellow-orange with a black tip. The legs are really short. The Least tern lays from one to three eggs. Their nest are a depression in the sand or in this case in sandy gravel.

Habitat:

Most of the time they just fly over the ocean, some times resting on islands or ships. Breeding season they nest above tide line in the sand.

Notes:

Spotted at a protected colony at Alameda Naval airstrip.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)
Jellis
Thank you Jemma. I had a great time watching the babies running all over. Saw one being punished by a parent. They knock them down on the back of the head with their bill and the baby will lay there looking dead. Then like a time out, the baby gets up and heads back to it's own area.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
California Coastal Wildlife Watch
Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Desert Wildlife
Photographed
PublishedJune 17, 2013

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