The Elegant Tern is a Pacific Coast tern with a long, drooping orange bill and a shaggy black crest. Nearly its entire world population breeds at two sites in Baja California. After breeding it disperses northward along the California coast. The long drooping orange bill distinguishes it from the Royal Tern. It winters in South America.
Best time to see a Elegant Tern
The best time to see a Elegant Tern is July–October, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 6,258 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Elegant Tern sightings near you
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