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Range (Northern South America)

Northern South America northward to California, Dakota, and Massachusetts, rarely to Labrador; breeds locally throughout its range, and winters south of the United States.

Washington, casual T. V. Long Island, rare in summer. Eggs, three to four, buffy white, speckled or spotted with chocolate, 1.25 x 90.

This, the smallest of our Terns, resembles its congeners in habits, though it is said to add insects to its usual fare of fish. Its voice is described as "a sharp squeak, much like the cry of a very young pig following its mother." 75. Sterna fuliginosa Gmel. SOOTY TERN. Ad.-Forehead and a line reaching to the eye white, lores and rest of the head black; nape, back, and wings brownish black, nearly as dark as the head; outer tail-feathers white, brownish on the end half of the inner web; rest of tail-feathers of the same color as the back; under parts white; bill and feet black. Im., first plumage. Sooty slate-color; linings of the wings and under tail-coverts whitish; wing-coverts, scapulars, upper tail-coverts, and tail-feathers more or less tipped with white. L., 17·00; W., 11.50; T., 7-25; B., 1.75.