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Articles

Vol. 5 No. 2 (1974)

NOTES: FIRST LEAST TERN IN MONTANA

Submitted
August 19, 2025
Published
April 1, 1974

Abstract

About noon on 20 July 1974 I saw an immature Least Tern (Sterna albifrons) at the northeastern corner of the Cottonwood Reservoir along U. S. Highway 89 about four miles north of Wilsall, Park County, Montana. I observed the bird in bright sunlight through a 20X scope for about 20 minutes, often as close as 50 feet. The length and wing-span were no more than twice those of two brown-backed swallows (probably Rough-winged Swallows, Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) that twice harassed the tern closely.

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