tern ID - southeast texas (1 Viewer)

howell7079

Well-known member

• Jul 22, 2008

• #1

I saw this tern flying around today at the Texas City dike. It's dark grey, I am guessing an immature bird but no idea which one. Thanks for the help.

 

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The Falcon

Registered Birder

• Jul 22, 2008

• #2

It's a molting Black Tern.

 

L

littlebitrv

Well-known member

• Jul 22, 2008

• #3

I think your right Black Tern.
Marie

 

howell7079

Well-known member

• Jul 22, 2008

• #4

According to the books I have the black tern doesn't come this far south. Is it rare for Texas or are the books not that accurate?

Thanks
Lyndon

 

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Jul 22, 2008

• #5

howell7079 said:

According to the books I have the black tern doesn't come this far south. Is it rare for Texas or are the books not that accurate?

Thanks
Lyndon

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Good for this time of year, but no biggie - perhaps started south a little early. They should be passing through during migration.

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Jul 22, 2008

• #6

Black Terns can start their southbound migration in July. They are heading south to spend the winter in South America.

 

J

Jim M.

Member since 2007

Supporter

• Jul 22, 2008

• #7

howell7079 said:

According to the books I have the black tern doesn't come this far south. Is it rare for Texas or are the books not that accurate?

Thanks
Lyndon

Click to expand...

Some guides, such as the National Geographic guide, do not use color shading to indicate where a bird might be found in migration. (The National Geographic guide shows permanent range, breeding range, and winter range only). Sometimes, the National Geographic guide will use arrows to show migration paths or dashed lines to indicate the border of the migration range, but in certain cases, as in the case of Black Tern, it gives no indication at all.

However, the Sibley guides, for one, do use color shading to indicate presence during migration. I think this is definitely preferable.

Best,
Jim

 

onlybill

Well-known member

• Jul 23, 2008

• #8

black terns

Black terns are now here on the Texas coast, and I have a photo to prove it. I took this last weekend. As you can see there is quite a bit of color variation.

 

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H

humminbird

Well-known member

• Jul 23, 2008

• #9

Black Terns are in Texas (See Kelly Bryan et al "A Checklist of Texas Birds" 7th edition and Shackelford and Lockwood "Birds of Texas Occurence and Seasonal Movements" (both booklets are Texas Parks and Wildlife Publications and can be found at www.tpwd.state.tx.us)). Interestingly, Arvin (Birds of the South Texas Brushlands) shows them as common late April to early June and late August to early November. He shows them as uncommon early June to late August and not occurring November to April. I could not find a cheklist for the Upper Texas Coast (south east Texas) so can not point to occurrence data there, but the seasonal movements book shows them as migrant only.