California least tern

While numbers have gradually increased with its protected status, the species is still vulnerable to population decline through natural disasters, predation, and human disturbance.Courtship typically takes place removed from the nesting colony site, usually on an exposed tidal flat or beach.The California least tern hunts primarily in shallow estuaries and lagoons, or beyond the breakers, even beyond 24 km offshore in areas of upwelling, and where smaller fishes are abundant.In the bays and lagoons of Southern California and northern Mexico, the favored prey include anchovy, smelt, silversides, shiner surfperch and small crustaceans.Both have conspicuous black markings on their outermost primaries and fly over water with a distinctive hunchback appearance, with bills pointing slightly downward.
Least terns and snowy plovers nesting at Batiquitos Lagoon
Juvenile preparing to receive food from parent
San Luis ObispoConservation statusEndangeredScientific classificationEukaryotaAnimaliaChordataCharadriiformesLaridaeSternulaS. antillarumTrinomial nameMearnsSynonymssubspeciesleast ternPacific OceanSouthern CaliforniaSan Francisco BayMexicomigratorysnowy ploversBatiquitos LagoonSouth AmericanCourtshipsalt flatsSan Diego Countyclutchincubatesemi-precociallacustrineestuarieslagoonsanchovysilversidesshiner surfperchcrustaceansburrowing owlsAmerican kestrelsUnited StatesAtlanticFloridaGreat Plainslittle ternIntegrated Taxonomic Information SystemUnited States NavyCalifornia Department of Fish and GameTijuanaWastewater TreatmentUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyAlameda Naval Air StationWikidataiNaturalistNatureServe