What is the Interior Least Tern?
Scientific name – Sterna antillarum Appearance – This 8 to 9 inch birds have a black “crown” on their head, a snowy whiter underside and forehead, grayish back and wings, orange legs, and a yellow bill with a black tip. Habitat – From late April to August, terns use barren to sparsely vegetated sandbars along rivers, sand and gravel pits, or lake and reservoir shorelines. Reproduction – The terns nest in a shallow hole scraped in an open sandy area, gravelly patch, or exposed flat. The nest in small colonies. The chicks leave the nest only a few days after hatching, but the adults continue to care for them, leading them to shelter in nearby grasses and bringing them food. Feeding Habits – The terns hover over and dive into standing or flowing water to catch small fish. Range – Interior least terns breed in isolated areas along the Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Red, and Rio Grande river systems. Their winter home is not known, but probably includes coastal areas of Central and South Amer
