Black Tern

Chlidonias niger

Diving and darting across wetlands worldwide, the Black Tern transforms from ghostly gray to stark black during breeding season.

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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