Least Tern
The least tern is an infrequent visitor to Colorado.
About This Species
The least tern is the smallest of the North American terns. With a length of approximately nine inches, a wingspan of about 20 inches and light, buoyant flight, it gives the appearance of being very delicate on the wing. During the breeding season the adults are light gray on the upper parts, white underneath, with a black crown above the eyes and a white mark on the forehead. The legs and bill are yellow with the bill noticeably black at the tip. Unlike most other terns, the forked tail is relatively short.
Protecting the Least Tern
Conservation Plan - Multi Species
State of Colorado Piping Plover and Interior Least Tern Historical Recovery Plan (1994)
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Range
This bird breeds along the California coast, along rivers in the Mississippi Valley, and coastally from Maine south to Florida. It winters from Baja California south to southern Mexico and also along the coast of South America. In Colorado, the least tern has bred in the southeastern portion of the state, generally in the La Junta-Lamar area.
Habitat
The preferred nesting habitat is on sandy or pebbly beaches, well above the water line, around lakes and reservoirs or on sandy soil sandbars in river channels.
Diet
Least terns feed exclusively on small fish. When hunting, the least tern dives from as high as 20 feet into the water to capture their prey.
Reproduction
Least terns arrive to breeding grounds starting in mid-May. Females typically lay two to three eggs, deposited in a shallow "scrape". Both sexes share incubation, which takes about 19 to 25 days.