A small tern that searches above the water for small fish, then plunges to catch them. Breeding adults show a black cap and yellow bill.
In breeding plumage, adults have a black cap, white forehead, and yellow bill and legs.
In Tampa Bay, Florida, Least Terns nest on gravel rooftops as well as beaches. Researchers banded healthy chicks that fell from roofs between 2011 and 2019 and returned them to rooftop colonies. Searches continued through 2022 to track the chicks and examine whether they could receive parental care around fledging.
The team returned 168 fallen chicks to roofs, and some were later resighted as adults. Estimated apparent survival was about 39% for juveniles and 82% for adults. The authors described returning fallen chicks as a viable management method. Regular rooftop checks during the breeding season can help locate chicks that need assistance.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Some healthy chicks returned to rooftops were later resighted as adults. Checking rooftop colonies during the breeding season and returning fallen chicks can support terns nesting on buildings.