Black Tern (“the splotchy, black migrant”)
The Black Tern is smaller than the medium terns and only slightly larger than the Least Tern. It is migrant through much of Texas in fall and spring and can show up at inland locations, but is more numerous on the coast. In full alternate plumage it has a black body, charcoal gray wings and white vent & undertail coverts. In migration it often seems to be in plumage transition so I call it “the splotchy, black migrant”. With its long wings and buoyant flight it is not a difficult identification. The Black Tern most commonly feeds by picking food items from the surface of water, but also hunts insects in mid-air. In migration 1,000s may be seen at coastal spots.
Least Tern (“little yellow bill”)
The Least Tern is the smallest in the world. It is a summertime breeder on the Texas Coast and is seldom seen in Texas in winter. In alternate plumage it sports a white forehead and a yellow bill with a black tip — the only tern present in Texas to do so. In basic plumage the Least has an all-black bill. Once the eye is calibrated it is not difficult to identify this small, fluttering flyer as it dives in, usually fairly shallow water.
Black Skimmer
The iconic Black Skimmer needs no nickname!! It is an easily identifiable year-round resident of the Texas Coast where it skims along the surface of the water and snatches prey with its unique black & orange bill.
Rare Texas Terns
Elegant Tern (“rare & elegant”)
The Elegant Tern fits nicely between the slightly smaller Sandwich and the slightly larger Royal. The Elegant is usually found on the west coast of north and parts of south America. As of 2025 the Texas Birds Record Committee (TBRC) has accepted 16 records for the Elegant in Texas.
In September of 2022 the Travis Audubon Shorebird Class was treated to a sighting of an Elegant Tern at the Port Aransas jetty. The Elegant has a very long and slender slightly down-turned orange bill and a rather spikey black crest in back.
Arctic Tern
The Arctic Tern has been recorded 17 times in Texas. As a medium-sized tern the Common and Forster’s must be ruled out. In comparison with these two the Arctic is slightly smaller, has shorter legs and a shorter neck. Artic has a small, straight red (alternate) or black (basic) bill. It stands very low to the ground due to its short legs. The tail projects well beyond folded wings. (All photos below were taken in Alaska).
