Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
Laridae Members: Elegant Tern 12266
General Comments
This is a species of the Pacific Ocean, ranging regularly north to southern CA, and southward along the Mexican coast as a breeder, and wintering south to South America. As with the Heermann's Gull, another strictly eastern Pacific species, it has been recorded from a few East Coast states. The first NC record was one photographed (photos on an eBird report) at the southern side of Oregon Inlet at Pea Island NWR (Dare), on 14 Sep 2023* (Chat 88:12), (Chat 88:55). A second record, also photographed and seen by many, was one at Cape Hatteras Point (Dare), from 25-27 Sep 2025 (Chat 90:17); photos are on the Carolina Bird Club Photo Gallery. The last record is being voted on by the NC BRC.
Breeding Status
Nonbreeder
NC BRC List
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
SA
Global Rank
G4
Coastal Plain
Two records (see above).
Piedmont
No records.
Mountain
No records.
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