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  • Smallest American tern at 8 inches

  • During breeding, black cap ending at white forehead. Short white eyestripe. Bill yellow with black tip. Back light gray. Underside white. Black leading edge to wing. In nonbreeding plumage has black eyestripe extending to back of head, white top of head, and black bill

  • Commonly confused with:

    • Royal terns

    • Common terns

  • Found throughout surf zone. Performs aerial dives where it lunges into water for food and may hover briefly before plunging.

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Least Terns

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