Specialty Birds

Elegant Tern
Copyrighted Photo courtesy of: Peter La Tourrette

Elegant Tern
Sterna elegans

Common post-breeding visitor between July and October along beaches and nearshore waters.

Some of the best Central Coast birding sites to find it are:

San Luis Obispo County: 
Morro Rock
Offshore from Shell Beach cliffs 
Arroyo Grande and Pismo Creek mouths
Morro Strand State Beach

Santa Barbara County: 
Ocean Park
Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park 
Goleta Point [Campus Pt. on UCSB]

Ventura County:
Santa Clara River Estuary  
Ventura River Estuary 
Ormond Beach 
Mugu Lagoon 

For information on this bird, visit:

	ID TIPS, Life History, CBC Map, Taxonomy
	Wildlife Habitat Relationships Report
	Species Description, Photo & Voice Recording
	Field Guide and Film Clip

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Specialty Birds of the California Central Coast

Central Coast Birding Trail | Monterey | San Luis Obispo | Santa Barbara | Ventura