Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)

Other Scientific Names
Thalasseus elegans [Stotz et al. (1996)], Thalasseus elegans [AOU checklist (1998 + supplements)]

Family
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Skimmers)

Size
37 - 41 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Gambel, 1849)

Habitat
Breeds on flat rocky areas and is strongly tied to the coast. Forages in inshore waters, estuarine habitats, salt ponds and lagoons. Occasionally further offshore in the non-breeding season.

Range (Guide)

Chile (NB), Colombia (NB), Costa Rica (NB), Ecuador (NB), El Salvador (NB), Guatemala (NB), Mexico (B), Nicaragua (NB), Panama (NB), Peru, USA (B).

Vagrant to Belgium, Denmark, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), France, Ireland, United States Minor Outlying Islands.

Pacific coast of North America, with very restricted breeding range from southern California to central Baja California and from Gulf of California to Nayarit.

Population
Estimated population is 51,000 - 90,000 (2010) and fluctuating.

Status NT
Over-fishing and egg collection are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (106)...)

Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) [XC485500]
by Paul Marvin from J Street Marina, Chula Vista, San Diego Co, California, United States (flight call)

Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) [XC284163]
by Paul Marvin from Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve, Huntington Beach, Orange County, California, United States (flight call)

Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis) and Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), and perhaps Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini). Subspecific status has been suggested.

No subspecies.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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