Species Profile
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
Black Tern
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Short-tailed Tern
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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.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Black
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Black
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & 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.
Distribution
Where to See This Bird
Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.
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.
Calls & Sounds
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
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.
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.
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.
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