Black Tern

Overview

The black tern is a small species of tern generally found in or near inland water that breeds in Europe, Western Asia and North America. It migrates to the coastal areas of Africa and South America during the winter months.

Identification

• Adults are 25 cm long with a wingspan of 61 cm, featuring a dark grey back, white forewings, and a black head, neck, and belly.
• The bill is short, black, slender, and slightly decurved, nearly as long as the head, accompanied by short dark legs.
• In flight, the bird appears slim with full and dynamic wing-beats, often flying erratically as it dives for food.
• The call is described as a high-pitched 'kik', which can sound 'deafening' when heard from a large flock.

Habitat

Breeding habitat consists of freshwater marshes across most of Canada, the northern United States, and much of Europe and western Asia, where they nest on floating material or ground close to water. Wintering grounds include the coasts of northern South America and Africa.

Diet

This species forages on the wing by picking up items at or near the water's surface or catching insects in flight rather than diving for fish. Its diet mainly consists of insects, fish, and amphibians.

Did you know?

The genus name Chlidonias derives from the Ancient Greek for 'swallow-like', reflecting an old English name for the bird: 'carr swallow'.