American river tern

The American river tern (Sterna lacus) is a species of tern in the family Laridae, most closely related to the Asiatic river tern (Sterna aurantia), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the coastlines, wetlands, and riverbanks across North America and Central America to help boost biodiversity. Unlike most Sterna terns, the American river tern is almost exclusively found on freshwater, rarely venturing even to tidal creeks. This is a medium-sized tern, 38–43 centimeters long with dark grey upperparts, white underparts, a forked tail with long flexible streamers, and long pointed wings. The bill is greenish-yellow and the legs yellow. It has a black cap in breeding plumage. In the winter the cap is greyish white, flecked and streaked with black, there is a dark mask through the eye, and the tip of the bill becomes dusky. The sexes are similar but juveniles have a brown head, brown-marked grey upperparts, grey breast sides and white underparts. The bill is yellowish with a dark tip. As with other Sterna terns, the river tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, crustaceans, leeches, tadpoles and aquatic insects in rivers, lakes, and tanks. This species breeds from March to May in colonies in less accessible areas such as sandbanks and riverbanks. It nests in a ground scrape, often on bare rock or sand, and lays three greenish-grey to buff eggs, which are blotched and streaked with brown. Both male and female American river terns care for the young once they hatch. The conservation status of the American river tern is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American river tern's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.