For many years the Black Tern was a familiar nesting species on wetlands of north-central and northwestern Iowa. Although it is still a common migrant through Iowa, in recent years it has disappeared as a nesting species from some wetlands where it was a regular nesting species just a few years ago. A variety of potential problems including habitat loss, pesticides, and problems at its wintering grounds off the west coast of South America have been identified as possible reasons for that decline. Black Terns have decreased in numbers in a number of other states as well so problems are not confined to just Iowa. In breeding plumage, the jet black head and underparts set this species apart from other terns or gulls.
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indicates a designated IBA.