- Comments:
By the 1870s, populations of Common Terns were decimated by the millinery trade but
rebounded in the 1930s due to protection brought about by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
However, they fell again when the effects of DDT and competition with gulls for limited
breeding sites affected their breeding opportunities and success. Common Terns usually
nest on islands in open areas with sand, shell or gravel and some vegetation for chicks to
use as shelter. They are rare local breeders in the northern Great Plains, but they
migrate through the region and are often found on lakes and reservoirs. They are most
likely to be confused with Forster’s Terns. However, Common Terns are slightly
smaller with shorter legs and their pale-gray upper wings usually show a dark wedge on the
trailing edge of the primaries. Their forked tails show dark outer edges and do not extend
past their wingtips when at rest.
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