(Sterna antillarum)
8 - 10 inches

photograph © Walker Golder

Status: Proposed for listing as Species of Special Concern.

Identification: This is the smallest of the terns, about the size of a purple martin. The species is easily identified by its small size and yellow bill. Least Terns also have a black cap, a white chevron on the forehead and yellowish legs. The wings and back are pale gray, and the undersides are white.

Nesting Habitat: Least Terns nest on barrier beaches, natural islands or dredged-material islands with a substrate of mixed sand and shell, and little or no vegetation. This species is also known to nest on flat, gravel roof tops.

Breeding Biology: Adults usually arrive along the North Carolina coast in April. Courtship often begins before the end of the month, followed by egg-laying in early May. Least Terns will renest until early July if early nesting attempts fail. Nests are shallow, saucer-shaped depressions in the sand, sometimes lined with shell fragments. The females lay one to three eggs. The eggs are pale olive-buff to whitish with uneven brown blotches. Eggs are small and extremely well camouflaged. Incubation requires 19 days and chicks fledge at about four weeks of age. Colony sites may be occupied from late April through August.

Food: Food consists primarily of small fish, but also includes crustaceans and insects.

State Nesting Population: Declining, approximately 900 nesting pairs.

Major Threats: Human disturbances at nesting sites, including off-road vehicle traffic on beaches, recreation activity in the vicinity of nesting sites, unconstrained dogs and feral cats; loss of suitable nesting sites and discarded monofilament fishing line.

Waterbirds:
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Last Revision 5/21/98