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Elegant tern (Thalasseus elegans) Commonly seen in the Elkhorn Slough during Summer and Fall, rarely in the spring and not seen in the winter

A slender tern with a bill that is long thin and slightly drooping. This medium sized tern has a long, slender and pointed wing with a medium length forked tail. Their chest will be shaggy during breeding season.

A medium-sized, slender tern with a long, thin, slightly drooping bill. The wings are long, slender and pointed. The tail is medium length and forked. In the breeding season Elegant Terns have a shaggy crest.

The Elegant Tern will fly above the Elkhorn Slough then dive into the water capturing small fish, mostly anchovies. The Elegant Tern can often be see foraging in large flocks often with other species of sea birds.

The Elegant Tern breeds on islands and beaches in very dense colonies. The first found nest spot of this Tern was in 1959 in San Diego Bay.

The Oldest known Elegant Tern was found in California in 2010 where it was banded in 1989. Making it at least 20 years 11 month old

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