Common Tern

Sterna hirundo May–Sep

A long distance migrant that winters in South America, this bird is common during the warmer months as it searches for fish. They hunt while in flight, appearing to slap the surface of the water as they pick off small fish close to the surface, and gather in large groups on rocky islands. Their bright orange beak and feet, in combination with the black cap, make them hard to miss. They also produce a high pitched rattling keeeaaarr call that echoes over the water.

One of the birds that fell prey to fashion during the 18th and early 19th century, this species was nearly driven to extinction due to the popularity of their feathers being used as hat decorations. They grew in number by the 1930s once the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was signed in 1918, and the population was relatively stable during the second half of the 20th century. However, they are currently in decline in some parts of the US due to factors such as habitat loss, exposure to contaminants, and climate change.