Least Tern

Least Tern

Sternula antillarum
Least Tern, Ruth Walker

Introduction

The American equivalent of our Little Tern, this species has only been recently recognized by taxonomists. A regularly returning individual visited Rye Harbour, East Sussex, between 1983 and 1992.

Least Tern, Ruth Walker

Key Stats

Status
Very rare
Very rare
Weight
Weight
46g
Seasonality
Seasonality
BTO Records
BTO Records
50 records
Population and distribution stats for:
Population Change
Population Change
No data
Population Size
Population Size
No current data
Distribution Change
Distribution_change
No current data
Population Change
Population Change
No data
Population Size
Population Size
No current data
Distribution Change
Distribution_change
No current data

Movement

Information about Least Tern movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Least Tern, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Least Tern

Classification and Codes

  • Order: Charadriiformes
  • Family: Laridae
  • Scientific name: Sternula antillarum
  • Authority: Lesson, 1847
  • Euring code number: 6242

Alternate species names

  • Catalan: xatrac menut americà
  • Czech: rybák nejmenší
  • Danish: Amerikansk Dværgterne
  • Dutch: Amerikaanse Dwergstern
  • Estonian: ameerika väiketiir
  • Finnish: amerikanpikkutiira
  • French: Petite Sterne
  • German: Antillen-Zwergseeschwalbe
  • Hungarian: antillai csér
  • Icelandic: Rindilþerna
  • Italian: Fraticello americano
  • Latvian: sikais zirinš
  • Lithuanian: nykštukine žuvedra
  • Norwegian: Amerikadvergterne
  • Polish: rybitwa mala
  • Portuguese: trinta-réis-miúdo
  • Slovak: rybár krpatý
  • Spanish: Charrancito americano
  • Swedish: amerikansk småtärna

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

Citing BirdFacts

If you wish to cite particular content in this page (e.g. a specific value) it is best to use the original sources as linked in the page. For a more general citation of the whole page please use: BTO (20XX) BirdFacts Species: profiles of birds occurring in the United Kingdom. BTO, Thetford (www.bto.org/birdfacts, accessed on xx/xx/xxxx).

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