June 2022 - 29

Least terns
The least tern seems small and dainty
compared to other terns and gulls. They
can grow up to 9 inches long, about the size
of a red-winged blackbird but with longer
wings. They are the smallest tern that can
be spotted in Wyoming, although they are
a rare vagrant in the state. They have a white
chest, belly and forehead, gray wings and
back and a black cap on their head with
one line running through their eyes. Their
legs and bill are yellow, and the bill has a
black tip. No other tern in North America
has the yellow bill and legs, so that makes
identification of this bird foolproof.
Least terns were hit hard by the feather
trade and have never quite come back in
numbers. Habitat destruction by humans
also has affected these terns, especially during
their nesting season.
Doug Faulkner in his book " Birds of
Wyoming " states that there is probably no
habitat in Wyoming suitable for nesting.
Although they are rare in Wyoming, I have
seen least terns at Saratoga Lake on several
occasions.
Arctic tern
This tern is rare in Wyoming, although
a few sightings have been confirmed by the
Wyoming Bird Records Committee. This tern
can grow up to 15 inches long. Arctic terns
are pale gray with a black-capped head, red
bill and red legs.
This tern is considered the world's
greatest migrant. From its summer home in
the Arctic to its winter home in Antarctica,
they can travel as much as 31,000 miles.
This is roughly the distance of a trip around
the world. Some Arctic terns live as long
as 25 years, which translates into possibly
more than 600,000 migration miles in their
lifetime.
While you can't draw terns to your
backyard, these water-loving birds can
captivate onlookers as they cruise above the
water looking for food below the surface.
With their elegant plumage, terns have a
rich history in North America and a place
in the Cowboy State.
- Francis Bergquist lives in Saratoga with his wife, Janice.
He is a frequent contributor to Wyoming Wildlife.
A rare vagrant in Wyoming, the least tern is the smallest of the world's tern species. A distinguishing characteristic of
the least tern is its yellow bill with a black tip. (Photo by Francis Bergquist)
Another rare bird in Wyoming, the Arctic tern can travel up to 31,000 miles while migrating. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Wyoming Wildlife | 29

June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2022

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