Roseate Tern

Sterna dougallii

In Canada, the roseate tern is at the northern limit of its range. It breeds along the Atlantic coast in Nova Scotia and in Quebec, and has been seen in New Brunswick and in Newfoundland. These seabirds nest mainly on small offshore islands and islets. Human exploitation is the main limiting factor for the species. Predation at breeding colonies by gulls, crows, marsh hawks, short-eared owls and other wildlife poses a constant threat, and seems to be the main reason for the selection of islands and islets as nesting sites. The roseate tern is protected in Canada under the Migratory Birds Convention Act of 1917.