Elegant Terns are rare visitors to Arizona, far from their usual coastal Pacific range. These sleek, medium-large terns are recognizable by their long, slender orange bills, pale gray upperparts, white underparts, and a shaggy black crest during breeding season. While they breed primarily along the Pacific coast of Mexico and southern California, Elegant Terns are occasionally recorded in Arizona, usually after storms or during periods of unusual inland movement. Sightings are most often at large lakes or reservoirs such as Lake Havasu or the lower Colorado River region. Their presence in the state is considered accidental, making any appearance a noteworthy event for Arizona birders.
