General Description: Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) are small terns with differing winter and summer plumage.

In breeding plumage, Black Terns are all black from head to toe except white undertail coverts. In non-breeding plumage, the birds lose the black on the belly and most of the black on the head. Thus, in winter, the birds have dark wings, a light belly, and a black patch on the back of the head.

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Laridae, Sterninae.

Favored Habitat: Inland marshes in the northern US and Canada during summer; coastal northern South America during winter.

Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, look for Black Terns during migration around marshes and bodies of water such as Lake Mead, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, and the Pahranagat Valley.

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