Swallow or Swift type bird - white and dives into the water (1 Viewer)

[DavidEnoch]

I live just north of Dallas in Lewisville, Texas. I am lucky enough to have an office window facing a small lake. We have a small grayish white bird the size and shape of a swallow or swift that hovers about 50 feet above the lake, then folds its wings and dives straight down to the surface of the lake. The bird does not go under completely. I assume the bird is diving on either minnows or water insects of some type. I am not having any luck identifying it from my bird books.

Thanks,

David Enoch

 

[Steve Schoech]

Possibly a Least Tern?

 

[htcdude]

Agree sounds like a Tern. We have Common Tern over here that do exactly that.

nige

 

[kennethwfd]

agree. sounds like a tern as swallows/swifts are insectivores not fish feeders, their behaviour over water is either to catch insects attracted there or to take a quick drink or dip, they usually skim over the water, not to dive into it. Swallows and swifts are dark grey rather than lighter colours

Plenty of pics of terns on google images - does anything resemble your bird

 

[DavidEnoch]

I think you are right - Least Tern

Possibly a Least Tern?

I have been looking up info on the Common Tern and Least Tern on the Internet. Between the two, it would have to be the Least Tern due to size.
I got a quick look at it through binoculars a little bit ago and it does have black on the top of it's head.

Thanks for the help. I had been unsuccessful identifying it myself.

David Enoch

 

[Tiraya]

I have been looking up info on the Common Tern and Least Tern on the Internet. Between the two, it would have to be the Least Tern due to size.
I got a quick look at it through binoculars a little bit ago and it does have black on the top of it's head.

Thanks for the help. I had been unsuccessful identifying it myself.

David Enoch

Check Forster's too if it occurs in your region. They tend to be more freshwater-oriented than Common or Least.