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The smallest of the terns found in the Great Plains, Least Terns nest colonially
along sparsely vegetated coastal beaches, rivers, sand and gravel pits and dried mudflats.
Elaborate aerial courtship displays precede creation of a simple scrape in which 2-3 eggs
are laid. Eggs, chicks and adults may be taken by predators, crushed by hail storms and
drowned by water from thunderstorms or water releases from reservoirs. Habitat losses,
human recreation in nesting areas and pollution are continual threats. They winter along
coastal areas. Their diet consists of small fish and shrimp and other invertebrates they
catch by hovering, followed by quickly diving and grasping their prey in their bill. Least
Terns are federally listed as endangered where they occur in the Great Plains. They are
unlikely to be mistaken for other terns in the Great Plains due to the combination of
small size, light color, yellow legs and white forehead.
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