[Length 9 in. Wingspan 20 in.]

This Least Tern was photographed at the Boca Chica beach, TX. Photo taken with a AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D300 camera. (Date: May 4, 2009)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 20 in.]

This Least Tern in flight was photographed near a traditional nesting site at the Longport Sod Banks near Longport, New Jersey. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: June 1979)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 20 in.]

This immature Least Tern was photographed on Honeymoon Island near Dunedin, Florida. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: August 1981)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 20 in.]

This Least Tern was photographed near a traditional nesting site at Cape May, New Jersey. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF f4.0 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1996)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 20 in.]

This immature Least Tern was photographed on Nantucket Island, Rhode Island. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: August 1983)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 20 in.]

This Least Tern chick and egg were photographed at a traditional nesting site in Cape May, New Jersey. Photo taken with a Celestron 1250mm f10.0 mirror lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1984)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 20 in.]

Least Terns breed along the eastern and southwestern coasts of the US, and along the major rivers in the central US. Their habit of nesting on open beaches along the coasts has decreased their numbers due to habitat loss and disturbance. This pair was photographed during a courtship display at a traditional nesting site at Longport, New Jersey. Photo taken with a 750 f5.6 Celestron Mirror lens on Ektachrome 200 film pushed to 400. (Date: June 1988)

[Length 9 in. Wingspan 20 in.]

This Least Tern was photographed at Bolivar Peninsula, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=630mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: April 24, 2006)