Least Tern
Sternula antillarum
Tiny diving tern of open beaches, often sharing nesting habitat management with Piping Plovers on Assateague.
Quick facts
| Group | Gull / tern |
|---|---|
| Likelihood nearby | ★★★☆☆ |
| Habitats | Ocean beach, Dunes, Inlet, Assateague National Seashore, Assateague State Park |
| Seasons (this coast) | summer, breeding |
How to recognize them
- Smallest local tern; yellow bill with black tip, white forehead, black cap in breeding plumage.
- Hovers and plunge-dives for tiny fish in shallow surf and inlet waters.
Biology notes
- Colonial beach nester; scrapes on open sand.
- Feeds on small fish in nearshore and bay shallows.
Where to see them around Ocean City
- Assateague nesting beaches (view from outside closures).
- Ocean City Inlet and south-end beach when birds are foraging.
When to look
- Late spring through summer; gone by fall migration.
Viewing tips & etiquette
- Never walk through tern colonies—chicks crouch in plain sight on open sand.
Conservation
- Beach-nesting terns benefit from the same seasonal protections used for Piping Plovers.
