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Least Tern

Sternula antillarum Lesson, RP 1847

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Life history data
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Species distribution
Geographical range
Value: North America, Central America: Great Plains to Texas and n Louisiana; c California and Gulf of California coasts to Oaxaca (w Mexico), El Salvador and Nicaragua; w North Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea from Bahamas to Lesser Antilles, is. off Yucatan Pen., Belize and n Honduras, and is. n of Venezuela >> n SA coast
Source: IOC 12.1
Value: Great Plains to Texas and northern Louisiana; central California and Gulf of California coasts to Oaxaca (western Mexico), El Salvador, and Nicaragua; western North Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea from Bahamas to Lesser Antilles, islands off Yucatán Peninsula, Belize, and northern Honduras, and islands north of Venezuela; winters to coasts of northern South America
Source: Clements, version 2024
Maximum latitude of breeding range
Value: 48.16
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Minimum latitude of breeding range
Value: 10.86
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Centroid latitude
Value: 29.11
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 28.98
Units: degrees
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Centroid longitude
Value: -91.26
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Breeding restricted to island(s)
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Latitudinal range
Value: Tropical-Temperate
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Migration strategy
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: Full Migrant
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: Migratory
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Total range size
Value: 1340830.63
Units: km2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 18200000
Units: km2
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: > 50000
Units: km2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Realm
Value: Neotropic
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Neotropical, Nearctic
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Range and population size
Has restricted range?
Value: N
Source: Birdlife's Worldbird Database
Habitat
Altitude
Value:
Range: 0 - 0
Units: m
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value:
Range: 0 - 500
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Altitude range
Value: 500
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Number of major habitats used
Value: 4
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Habitat density (1-3)
Value: Open habitats
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Habitat description
Value: Sandy or gravelly beaches and islands along shallow coasts, rivers, and lakes; nests also flat rooftops of buildings; in winter, seacoasts, beaches, bays, estuaries, lagoons, and ocean (nonbreeding).
Source: AOU Checklist
Value: Marine
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: Marine
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Primary lifestyle
Value: DIURNAL
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: Terrestrial
Source: Bird et al. 2020
First habitat
Value: C: Sea coast, mangrove, estuary, bays, shores, fjords (only sea coast), coastal dune
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Second habitat
Value: W: Wetlands, lakes, salt lakes, marsh, reedbed
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Third habitat
Value: RV: Riparian, riverine, gallery forest, stream, running water, wooded ravines
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Fourth habitat
Value: A: Artificial, agricultural, farms, plantations, suburban, quarry, mine, excavation, dams and man-made lakes
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Food and feeding habits
Number of major food types consumed
Value: 2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Source used for diet data
Value: 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Main food source
Value: Fish
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: Omnivore
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Ecological Specialization Index
Value: 1.09691
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Foraging niche
Value: Aquatic plunge
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Trophic level
Value: Carnivore
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Carnivore
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Trophic niche
Value: Aquatic predator
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Aquatic predator
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Weight of fish in diet
Value: 8
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of fruits in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of invertebrates in diet
Value: 2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of land vertebrates in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of miscellaneous in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of nectar in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of plant material in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of scavenging in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of seeds in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Sum of the weighted diets
Value: 10
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body measurements
Bill depth (females)
Value: 0.5575
Range: 0.52 - 0.58
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill depth (males)
Value: 0.565
Range: 0.53 - 0.6
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill depth (sex unknown)
Value: 0.56125
Range: 0.52 - 0.6
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (females) - Culmen
Value: 2.9225
Range: 2.85 - 3
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 2.67
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Bill length (males) - Culmen
Value: 2.98
Range: 2.78 - 3.36
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 2.82
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Bill length (females) - Nares to tip
Value: 1.95
Range: 1.84 - 2.01
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (males) - Nares to tip
Value: 2
Range: 1.8 - 2.11
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (sex unknown) - Nares to tip
Value: 1.975
Range: 1.8 - 2.11
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (sex unknown) - Culmen
Value: 2.95125
Range: 2.78 - 3.36
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (females)
Value: 0.305
Range: 0.28 - 0.33
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (males)
Value: 0.32
Range: 0.3 - 0.34
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (sex unknown)
Value: 0.3125
Range: 0.28 - 0.34
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Body mass
Value: 46.85
Range: 31 - 57.5
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 45.86
Units: g
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 45.86
Units: grams
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 46.75
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (females)
Value: 49.3
Units: grams
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 49.3
Range: 46.85 - 55
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value:
Range: 40 - 62
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Hatchling body mass
Value: 7
Range: 6.8 - 7
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Body mass (males)
Value: 46.9
Units: grams
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 46.2
Range: 40 - 60
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value:
Range: 41 - 54
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (sex unknown)
Value: 57
Range: 49.55 - 57.5
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value:
Range: 30 - 53.5
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Tail length (females)
Value: 7.175
Range: 5.4 - 8.4
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tail length (males)
Value: 6.98
Units: cm
Sample: 5
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 8.375
Range: 7.8 - 9.2
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tail length (sex unknown)
Value: 7.775
Range: 5.4 - 9.2
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (females)
Value: 1.56
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 1.43
Range: 1.32 - 1.51
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (males)
Value: 1.55
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 1.485
Range: 1.4 - 1.56
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (sex unknown)
Value: 1.4575
Range: 1.32 - 1.56
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (females)
Value: 16.64
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 16.55
Range: 15.7 - 17
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (females)
Value: 52.675
Range: 50 - 55.8
Units: %
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (males)
Value: 49.25
Range: 40 - 55
Units: %
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Hand-Wing Index (unknown)
Value: 50.9625
Range: 40 - 55.8
Units: %
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (females)
Value: 11.2825
Range: 10.12 - 11.8
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (males)
Value: 11.55
Range: 11.2 - 12.2
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (unknown)
Value: 11.4162
Range: 10.12 - 12.2
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (males)
Value: 16.69
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 16.475
Range: 16.2 - 16.8
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (females) - secondary1
Value: 5.2675
Range: 5 - 5.58
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (males) - secondary1
Value: 4.925
Range: 4 - 5.5
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (unknown) - secondary1
Value: 5.09625
Range: 4 - 5.58
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (sex unknown)
Value: 16.5125
Range: 15.7 - 17
Units: cm
Sample: 8
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Nest characteristics
Description of physical nest (shape, etc.)
Value: scrape
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Eggs
Egg mass
Value: 8.1
Units: grams
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 9.9
Range: 8.1 - 10
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Reproduction
Age at first breeding
Value: 2.000273823
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 2.150808751
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 1.5
Range: 1 - 2
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Age at first breeding (females)
Value: 2
Range: 2 - 3
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Age at first breeding (males)
Value: 3
Range: 2 - 3
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Clutch size
Value: 2
Range: 2 - 3
Units: n
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 2
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 1-3
Source: http://www.birdzilla.com
Value: 2
Units: n
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value:
Range: 1 - 3
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Colonial species
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Cooperative breeding
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Fledging period
Value:
Range: 21 -
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 23
Range: 19.5 - 28
Units: days
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 19-20
Source: http://www.birdzilla.com
Number of breeding attempts per year
Value: 1
Range: 1 - 1
Units: n/year
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value:
Range: 1 - 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Incubation period
Value: 21
Range: 20 - 25
Units: days
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 20-22
Source: http://www.birdzilla.com
Value:
Range: 19 - 25
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Leks
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Monogamous
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
How nests are connected to supporting objects
Value: Basal
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Location where nests are constructed
Value: Ground
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Value: Ground
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Nest has an 'artificial' location
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has an 'earth hole' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'ground' location
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'rock' location
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'tree hole' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'vegetation' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'water' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest structure
Value: Scrape
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Nest has a 'cavity' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'clearing' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'cup' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'dome' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'dome-and-tube' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has an 'excavation' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'excavation-with-nest' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'mound' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'none' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'platform' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'ring' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'scrape' structure
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Parasitic breeding
Value: False
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Value: 0: false
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Host of parasitic breeding
Value: 0: false
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Polygynous
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Yearly productivity per pair
Value:
Range: 1.49 -
Units: n young
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Survival
Adult annual survival rate
Value: 88.5
Units: annual rate
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 0.860528913
Units: annual rate
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Average generation length (years)
Value: 8.372812288
Range: 6.368891251 - 9.846460925
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 7.23
Units: years
Source: Birdlife 2024
Maximum age
Value: 19.39650806
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 23.917
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 24.1
Range: 21 - 24.1
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Average survival
Value: 23.917
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Population decline over 10 years
Value: 3%
Range: 0% - 6%
Units: percent
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Population decline over 3 generation
Value: 7%
Range: 1% - 14%
Units: percent
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Social behaviour
Pairs and family groups
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Social flocks
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Pairs and family groups
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Solitary
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Behaviour
Inability to fly
Value: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
References

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