Question: What's the difference between the beach nests of Least Terns and Black Skimmers?
Answer: The only difference between the nests (and eggs) is size. Neither the Least Tern nor the Black Skimmer builds a nest but instead scrape shallow depressions (called scrapes) in the sand just deep enough that the speckled, sand-colored eggs do not roll out. The Least Tern (length 9") is small; the Black Skimmer (length 18") is twice as long. They often nest adjacent to each other, making it possible to compare the sizes and the scrapes.
Least Tern scrape, egg, and chick, (actual size -- penny added for photo size comparison and then removed) |
Black Skimmer scrape, egg (actual size -- penny added for photo size comparison and then removed) |
