Black Tern Bird Facts (Chlidonias niger)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Black Tern is a small, slender seabird with a distinctive appearance. In breeding plumage, it boasts a striking black head, body, and underwings, contrasting sharply with grey upperwings and a white vent area. Its short, black bill and small, dark legs complete its elegant profile.

Non-breeding adults and juveniles display a duller coloration, with a white body, grey back and wings, and a black cap and ear patch. This seasonal transformation makes the Black Tern a fascinating subject for year-round observation.

Females are similar to males but can be identified by their slightly paler breeding plumage. Juveniles are similar to adults in their pale non-breeding plumage but have brown back feathers with lighter edges. The forehead and base of the bill may be browner than on adults.

Size

Length

22cm to 26cm

Wingspan

56cm to 62cm

Weight

50g to 75g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black Grey

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Black Tern is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Black Tern is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Black Tern can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Black Tern can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Black Tern is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Black Tern is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Black Tern is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Black Tern is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Black Tern is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Black Tern is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Black Tern is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Black Tern is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

During the breeding season, Black Terns inhabit freshwater marshes, wet meadows, and shallow lakes, preferring areas with abundant floating vegetation. Their breeding range spans northern North America and Eurasia, from the Great Plains to Scandinavia.

During winter, these birds migrate to coastal marine environments in tropical and subtropical regions. In North America, they can be found along both coasts and inland waterways during migration, offering birdwatchers diverse opportunities for observation.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Black Tern. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Albania Algeria Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Aruba Barbados Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Brazil Cameroon Cayman Islands Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary India Ireland Israel Italy Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Luxembourg Mali Malta Martinique Mauritania Mexico Montserrat Morocco Namibia Netherlands Nicaragua Nigeria Panama Peru Poland Puerto Rico Romania Russia Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sierra Leone Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Suriname Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan Tanzania The Bahamas Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turks and Caicos Ukraine Uzbekistan Venezuela Western Sahara

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Canada Czech Republic Estonia Finland Georgia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Portugal Russia Serbia The United Kingdom United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Jamaica

Species that pass through the area during migration

Austria Gibraltar Iran Jordan Palestine Senegal Syria Turkmenistan

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Afghanistan Australia Bahrain British Virgin Islands Chad Democratic Republic of the Congo Grenada Guadeloupe Iceland Iraq Japan Kenya Lebanon Madagascar Niger Oman Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Somalia Sudan United Arab Emirates Uruguay US Virgin Islands Yemen

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 95

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Black Tern exhibits exceptional agility, renowned for its swallow-like flight and impressive aerial acrobatics. Its ability to perform precise manoeuvres, including swift dips and dives to catch prey on the wing, demonstrates remarkable aerial prowess.

Strength 40

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not particularly strong for its size, the Black Tern possesses adequate strength for its lifestyle. It can carry small fish and insects, and navigate long-distance migrations, but lacks the robust build of larger seabirds.

Adaptability 85

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Black Terns show high adaptability, thriving in both freshwater and marine environments across seasons. Their ability to adjust their diet based on prey availability and successfully inhabit diverse habitats during breeding and migration periods indicates strong adaptive capabilities.

Aggressiveness 60

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Though not overly aggressive, Black Terns display moderate aggression when defending their nests and territories. They form loose colonies and engage in aerial displays, suggesting a balance between social behaviour and territorial instincts.

Endurance 90

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Black Tern demonstrates remarkable endurance, undertaking long-distance migrations of up to 20,000 km annually. This, combined with their energetic feeding style and ability to remain airborne for extended periods, reflects exceptional stamina for a bird of its size.

Diet

Black Terns are opportunistic feeders, primarily consuming insects caught in flight over water or land. They also eat small fish, amphibians, and crustaceans, adapting their diet based on availability.

Their unique feeding style involves graceful dips and dives, precisely snatching prey from the water's surface or air.

Behaviour

Black Terns are renowned for their agile, swallow-like flight. They are often seen skimming low over water to snatch insects or small fish from the surface.

They are highly social, forming loose colonies during breeding season and larger flocks during migration. These birds frequently engage in aerial displays, showcasing their impressive maneuverability.

Vocalisation

The Black Tern's vocalizations are distinctive and varied. Their most common call is a sharp, high-pitched 'kik' or 'kik-kik', often heard during flight or when alarmed.

During courtship, they produce a softer, more musical 'kyew' sound. These vocalizations play a crucial role in communication within colonies.

Nesting & Breeding

Black Terns typically form loose colonies during the breeding season, which spans from May to July in North America. Courtship involves aerial displays and food offerings between mates, cementing pair bonds.

Nests are built on floating vegetation or small mud islands, often in shallow water. The female lays 2-4 olive-brown eggs with dark markings, well-camouflaged against their surroundings.

Both parents share incubation duties for about 21 days. Chicks are semi-precocial, able to leave the nest within days of hatching but remaining dependent on parents for food and protection for several weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While currently listed as Least Concern globally, Black Tern populations have declined in parts of North America due to wetland habitat loss and degradation.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring breeding habitats, particularly in the Great Lakes region and prairie pothole areas.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

800,000 - 1,750,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Black Terns over freshwater marshes and lakes during summer months.
Observe their distinctive dipping flight as they feed on insects above the water.
Listen for their sharp, high-pitched 'kik' or 'kik-kik' calls.
In the US and Canada, visit wetland areas from May to August for the best chance of sightings.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Short-tailed Tern

Family:

Laridae

Average Lifespan

8 years

Max Lifespan

21 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include large fish, birds of prey such as hawks and owls, and mammals like raccoons and minks that may raid nests.

Did You Know?

Black Terns can drink on the wing by skimming the water's surface with their lower mandible.
They are one of the few tern species that primarily inhabit freshwater environments during breeding season.
Black Terns have been known to travel over 20,000 km annually during migration.

References

1 3
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Chlidonias niger (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22694787A155491450.
View source
2
report, 2015: Wetlands International
4
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source