Elegant Tern - Thalasseus elegans

Length 1.2-1.3 ft (36.8-40.6 cm)
Wingspan 2.5-2.7 ft (76.0-81.0 cm)
Weight 6.6-10.6 oz (186-300 g)
Clutch Size 1
Chicks at birth Semi-precocial
IUCN Conservation Status Near Threatened
Continents:NA, SA
Videos/Pictures

The Elegant Tern breeds on the Pacific coasts of the Southern U.S. and Mexico and winters south to Peru. We can see them in the Bay Area. The best place I have seen them is Middle Harbor, Oakland in late summer.

I love the way Elegant Terns look in non-breeding plumage. They look like little balding men.

Breeding (March-Aug)
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
07/16/2011 - Bodega Bay, CA
07/16/2011 - Bodega Bay, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
04/29/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA
04/29/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
04/29/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA
04/29/2008 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA
Non-breeding (Aug-Feb)
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
10/05/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
10/05/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
10/06/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
10/06/2010 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
Forster Tern - right background
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Forster Tern - right background
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
08/13/2007 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
Scratching himself while flying
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Scratching himself while flying
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
Fish in mouth
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Fish in mouth
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
Fish in mouth
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Fish in mouth
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
Coming in for landing
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Coming in for landing
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
Picture/image of Elegant Tern
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA
08/21/2008 - Middle Harbor Park; Oakland, CA

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