Species · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024
Roseate Tern
Roseate Tern has collapsed: down 85% on the route-weighted index since 1972.
About the Roseate Tern
The Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) is a North American member of the Gulls, Terns & Skimmers (Laridae). In this analysis it is grouped with the wetland birds.
- Size
- 8.5–31.5 in long (22–80 cm) — a long-winged waterbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Marshes, ponds, lakeshores and other freshwater wetlands.
- Diet
- Aquatic invertebrates, small fish, frogs and plant matter.
- Range
- Recorded on 3 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 3 states.
- Family
- Laridae · Wetland birds
Notable Roseate Tern TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
No notable trend signals for Roseate Tern. See the full index history below.
Where the Roseate Tern Is Detected
BBS routes recording Roseate Tern, sized by most recent count.
Roseate Tern Population Trend by State
| TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology → | Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology → | Survey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology → | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| Massachusetts | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
| New York | insufficient data | n/a | 1 |
Roseate Tern Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it down about 85% since 1972.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.