Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2025-31
Common name: |
Least Tern |
Scientific name: | Sternula antillarum |
Date: | May 12, 2025 |
Time: | 7:13 PM |
Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
Number: | 2 |
Age: | Adult |
Sex: | unknown |
Location: | Sand Hollow Reservoir |
County: | Washington |
Latilong: | 37�′38″N 113�′34″W |
Elevation: | 3000 feet |
Distance to bird: | Originally we were about 50 yards from the bird |
Optical equipment: | 8 x 43 Zen Ray binoculars, and Vortex Diamondback HD 10 x 42 and Swarovski 10 x 50 and Swarovski spotting scope |
Weather: | Sunny and very windy |
Light Conditions: | Evening sunlight |
Description: Size of bird: | Small tern |
(Description:) Basic Shape: | Tern Shape |
(Description:) Overall Pattern: | mostly white with some black |
(Description:) Bill Type: | tern type bill |
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
We pulled up to the beach at Sand Hollow that the gulls
often frequent and saw a group of shorebirds, gulls, and terns. The wind
was howling from the south. We got out and noticed some small birds next
to 4 Forster type terns and I initially thought they were possibly
Sanderling as they felt the right size and were white in appearance from
50 yards. Claire had 10 x bins and said that she didn't think they were
shorebirds, but could see the white forehead of a Least Tern. We grabbed
Natalies spotting scope and looked at the birds and were delighted to
see two breeding adult Least Terns. We could see their white foreheads,
and yellow bills. The birds had black caps on them, with a black eye
line. The leg color wasn't noted as they were in the sand. The chest and
the stomach of the bird was white. The mantle of the bird was gray. As
we went to take photos, one bird picked up to start to fly. We were able
to photograph it as it flew and noted the pale underwing, the white
forehead again. However while in flight we did not notice the dark
primaries at a distance. |
Song or call & method of delivery: |
Never heard vocalize. |
Behavior: | Originally Perched on sandy beach facing into the wind, then flying into the wind out on the reservoir. |
Habitat: | Reservoir with sandy beach. |
Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Least Terns are pretty unique in size and pattern. The birds that are most similar that could show up in Utah would be the Forster's and Common Tern. We had Forster's Terns next to the pair of Least Terns and the size difference was very apparent. Also the lack of white on the forehead excludes these two species. |
Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen multiple Least Terns around Utah, and Clarissa and Natalie have also seen this species of tern before. |
References consulted: | Sibley Field Guide |
Description from: | Notes made later |
Observer: | KC Childs |
Observer's address: | Orem, UT |
Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Natalie Tanner, Clarissa Chipman |
Date prepared: | May 30, 2025 |
Additional material: | Photos |
Additional comments: | Photos were emailed |