| Little Tern | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Least Tern (North American form) | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Sterna albifrons |
The Little Tern (Sterna albifrons ) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. The North American race, S. a. antillarum, is sometimes considered a separate species, Least Tern, Sterna antillarum.
This bird breeds on the coasts of temperate and tropical Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in the subtropical and tropical oceans as far south as Peru and Brazil (Least Tern), South Africa and Australia.
This species breeds in colonies on gravel or shingle coasts and islands. It lays two to four eggs on the ground. Like all white terns, it is defensive of its nest and young and will attack intruders.
Like all Sterna terns, Little Tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, usually from saline environments. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.
This is a small tern, not likely to be confused with other species because of its size and white forehead in breeding plumage. Its thin sharp bill is yellow with a black tip and its legs are also yellow. In winter, the forehead is more extensively white, the bill is black and the legs duller. The call is a loud and distinctive creaking noise.