Interior Least Terns - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Animalia

  • Phylum: Chordata

  • Class: Aves

  • Order: Charadriiforme

  • Family: Laridae

  • Genus: Sternula

  • Species: antillarum

  • Subspecies: athalassos

Interior Least Tern incubating eggs
Interior Least Tern incubating eggs

The Least Tern is divided into three subspecies:

  • Sternula antillarum brownie: The California Least Tern nests along the Pacific Coast of California
  • Sternula antillarum athalassos: The Interior Least Tern nests along river systems in the interior of the United States.
  • Sternula antillarum antillarum: The Coastal Least Tern nests along the Atlantic Coast.