Terns of North America

Terns comprise a stunning group of birds. Unmatched in their elegant mastery of the air, they possess striking behaviors and perform incredible feats of migration; for example, Arctic Terns migrate from southern South America to breed in the High Arctic and then travel all the way back south for the austral summer. This guide treats the terns, skimmers, and noddies of North America north of the Mexican border, covering nineteen species; sixteen species of terns as well as Black Skimmer, and Brown and Black Noddies. It uses more than 320 meticulously selected photos to highlight and explain key identification features for all these species. Many terns are subtle blends of gray and white with pronounced seasonal variation in plumage and bill color, so field identification can be challenging for the inexperienced birder. This guide attempts to demystify some of these challenges through painstaking attention to key details in shape, size, flight style, vocalizations, and behavior. Intra- and inter-species comparisons are treated with particular care. The result is a guide that will prove invaluable to birders irrespective of their level of field experience with these birds.