Least Tern

Sternula antiserum

Sophea

Classification

Kingdom: animal
Phylum: Chordate
Class: Aves
Order: charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Sternula
Species: antiserum

Physical Description

The least tern has a white forehead, contrasting with a black crown and nape. Its body is slate gray above and white below, with pointed wings and forked tail.

Diet and Feeding Habits

The least tern hunts in shallow estuaries and lagoons, where there are more smaller fish. They hover until spotting prey, and then they plunge into the water, without full submersion to extract dinner. The least tern feed on fish, crustaceans, and insects, including some mollusks and marine worms when necessary.

Reproduction

The least tern arrives in its breeding ground in late April. They begin to breed by mid- May and usually completes by mid-June. The least tern lays 1-4 eggs. The breeding colonies are not dense and may appear along either marine, estuaries shores, or on sand bar islands in large rivers. They breed in areas free from humans or predators.

Habitat

The least tern lives in the Gulf of Maine. It lives on coastal beaches and estuaries. Its nests consists of small scrapes in the sand above the high tide line.

Role in the Ecosystem

The least tern is a predator and is also a prey to foxes, cats, hawks, owls, and raccoons.
They live in colonies. If a predator or some disturbance disrupts the colony, adult least terns dive- bomb the predators. They live in the Gulf Of Maine and eat small fish and insects which they catch.

Bibliography

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/endspec/letefs.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_Tern
http://www.fws.gov/r5gomp/gom/habitatstudy/metadata/least_tern_model.
http://fwp.mt.gov/fieldguide/detail_ABNNM08102.aspx
http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/etweb/pdfs/leasttern_50_51.pdf
http://www.usm.maine.edu/gulfofmaine-census/Docs/Reference/bird_leasttern.htm
http://www.maineaudubon.org/conserve/atrisk/plover/pplt_plovers.shtml