Nature Walk: Black Terns

By Taylor on June 3, 2013 in Blog


Black terns inhabit freshwater lakes and marshes across the continent.  They can be seen flying into the wind just over water dipping their heads downward to pick insects from the surface or fish from of the water.  With their long pointed wings and erratic flight they are most interesting to watch as groups of birds skim the water.

Black Terns inhabit freshwater lakes and marshes across the continent. They can be seen flying into the wind just over water dipping their heads downward to pick insects from the surface or fish from of the water. With their long pointed wings and erratic flight, they are most interesting to watch as a group of birds skims the water.

These Black Terns pause for a snack mid-flight over a sheet water area just east of Ames, Iowa.

Have you seen any flying over flooded fields near you?

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View our other Nature Walk posts.