Least Tern Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesLeast Tern
Breeding adult
Smallest North American tern, with a yellow bill and white forehead. In flight, note pointed wings and black outer edge on the primaries.
© Sam Miller / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, May 27, 2019Breeding adult
Smallest tern in North America. Thin yellow bill and yellow legs during the breeding season help separate it from similar species.
© Jonathan Eckerson / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, August 02, 2015Breeding adult
Very small, neatly marked tern with white forehead and yellow bill (often with black tip).
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, June 27, 2010Not all videos have sound
Breeding adult
Small with narrow, pointed wings. Breeding birds have a black crown and a white forehead. In flight, note black edge on outer flight feathers.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, July 01, 2019Immature
Immature birds have a small smudgy black patch behind the eye and a dark bill unlike adults, but they still have yellow legs.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 28, 2019Juvenile
Very small tern. Juveniles have a barred or scaly looking back and yellow legs. The crown patch on this bird is small and smudgy brown; others can have a darker black partial crown.
© Harlan Stewart / Macaulay LibraryTexas, June 27, 2020Habitat
Found along seacoasts, beaches, bays, estuaries, lagoons, lakes, and rivers. Breeds on sandy or gravelly beaches and banks of rivers or lakes.
© Amiel Hopkins / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, June 11, 2020Similar SpeciesCommon Tern
Breeding adult
Common Terns are larger than Least Terns with broader wings. Breeding adults have an orange-red bill, fully black cap, and grayish underparts, unlike Least Tern's yellow bill and white forehead and belly.
© Mikaela Kropp / Macaulay LibraryDelaware, August 10, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Tern
Immature
Immature and nonbreeding Common Terns are larger and bulkier than Least Terns, with a blackish (not yellow) bill and a dark bar along the leading edge of the folded wing.
© Jody Wells / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, September 25, 2017Similar SpeciesForster's Tern
Breeding adult
Forster's Terns are larger with broader wings than Least Terns. Breeding adults have an orange bill and a fully black cap, unlike Least Tern's yellow bill and white forehead.
© Steve Tucker / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 06, 2017Similar SpeciesForster's Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Larger and bulkier than Least Terns with a white head and black ear patch in nonbreeding plumage.
© Bryan White / Macaulay LibraryMississippi, September 27, 2017Similar SpeciesSandwich Tern
Breeding adult
Sandwich Terns are larger than Least Terns with a shaggy crest, black bill, and black legs, unlike Least's rounded head, yellow bill, and yellow legs.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 18, 2011Similar SpeciesRoseate Tern
Breeding adult
Roseate Terns are larger than Least Terns. Breeding adults have a fully black crown and a long black or black-and-red bill, unlike Least's white forehead and yellow bill.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 14, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
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