Birds Identified: Black Tern

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Black Tern has these characteristics:

• Continuous flying
  
• Larger than robin
  
• Tail forked
  
• Bill long, as long or longer than head
  
• Mostly white
  
• Mostly blackish, or dark gray, bluish black, etc.
  
• Mostly black and white, or other dark color and white
  
• Underparts plain
  
• North summer (June through August)
  
• South summer (June through August)
  
• Marsh habitat
  
• Continuous flying high (near or above treetops when flying)
  
• Continuous flying low (below treetops when flying)
  
• On ground (walking, wading, running, hopping, or resting on ground)
  
• Zig zag flight (many irregular twists and turns)
  
• Occurs in flocks (from 4 or 5 to thousands)
  
• Rasping harsh calls
  
• Staccato and twitter call (short sharp notes or rapid series of notes: tinkling, trilling, sputtering, or percussive)
  

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