Black Skimmer
Terns are elegant, long-winged seabirds typically associated with coastal environments, but several species can be found in Arizona, particularly around large lakes, reservoirs, and river systems during migration and summer. The most widespread breeding tern in the state is the Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), which nests in marshes and wetlands in northern Arizona. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), the largest tern species, and Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) are regular spring and fall migrants, with the latter occasionally breeding locally. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is a less frequent migrant, sometimes confused with Forster’s Tern due to their similar appearance. Rare and accidental visitors include Least Tern (Sternula antillarum), sometimes reported near the Colorado River, and Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans), typically a coastal species that occasionally strays inland. Arizona’s reservoirs and riparian corridors provide important stopover habitat for these graceful fliers, particularly during migration.
Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) are rare but regular visitors to Arizona, typically seen at large lakes and reservoirs where they use their unique knife-like lower mandibles to skim the water's surface for fish.