(Sternula antillarum athalassos)
The Interior Least Tern is a state and federally protected endangered species. It is the smallest tern in North America. The Interior Least Tern is an energetic, swallow-like bird with a deeply forked tail and slender wings. They are graceful, agile flyers and are often observed hovering over bodies of water and diving to catch small fish.
Interior Least Terns are:
- slightly smaller than a robin
- 9 inches long from beak to tail
- 20 inches from wing tip to wing tip
Appearance
| Breeding Adult |
|---|
| white body |
| black cap with white forehead |
| light gray wings |
| yellow bill with black tip |
| yellow-orange legs |
| Winter Adult |
|---|
| paler than breeding birds |
| dark grey eye strip |
| white forehead with dusky brown cap |
| brownish-black bill |
| pale yellow legs |
Age
| Juvenile (1 years old) |
|---|
| closely resembles winter adult |
| mottled gray-white body |
| white forehead with dusky brown cap |
| dark bill |
| orange-black legs |
