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Elegant Tern

Sterna elegansOrder: CHARADRIIFORMESFamily: Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)

Breeding Location:

Islands, sandy or rocky



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Colonial



Breeding Population:

Expanding northward, Increasing



Egg Color:

White to pink buff with black or dark brown marks



Number of Eggs:

2



Incubation Days:

20 - 30



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

No nest materials.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Elegant Tern: Medium tern, pale gray upperparts, white underparts may have pink tint. Black cap has shaggy crest; orange or red-orange bill is long, slightly decurved. Outermost primaries have faint black smudges. Tail deeply forked, legs are black. Hovers above water before diving.

Range and Habitat

Elegant Tern: Breeds only in five breeding colonies: three in southern California, and two in northwestern Mexico. Spends winters along the Pacific coast from central Mexico to Chile. Preferred habitats include shallow estuaries and bays.

Breeding and Nesting

Elegant Tern: Two white to pink buff eggs marked with black or dark brown are laid in a shallow ground scrape near water. Incubation ranges from 20 to 30 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Elegant Tern: Feeds on fish; forages by hovering over shallow water and then plunge diving.

Vocalization

Elegant Tern: Call is a grating "karreck, karreck, karreck."

Similar Species

Elegant Tern: Royal Tern is larger with thicker, shorter, straight bill and shorter crest.

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Family
Species Sterna elegans
Length16 - 17 Inches
Wingspan34 Inches

Elegant Tern

Elegant Tern: Medium tern, pale gray upperparts, white underparts may have pink tint. Black cap has shaggy crest; orange or red-orange bill is long, slightly decurved. Outermost primaries have faint black smudges. Tail deeply forked, legs are black. Hovers above water before diving.

● Song: "karreck, karreck, karreck"

● Foraging & Feeding: Elegant Tern: Feeds on fish; forages by hovering over shallow water and then plunge diving.

● Breeding & nesting: Elegant Tern: Two white to pink buff eggs marked with black or dark brown are laid in a shallow ground scrape near water. Incubation ranges from 20 to 30 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Elegant Tern: Royal Tern is larger with thicker, shorter, straight bill and shorter crest.

Flight Pattern

Light buoyant flight on steady wing beats.
Elegant Tern Breeding Adult Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Elegant Tern: Breeds only in five breeding colonies: three in southern California, and two in northwestern Mexico. Spends winters along the Pacific coast from central Mexico to Chile. Preferred habitats include shallow estuaries and bays.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationExpanding northward, Increasing
MigrationMigratory
Weight9 Ounces