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10

Black Tern

(Chlidonias niger)
German name(s): "Trauerseeschwalbe"
Size: 22-26 cm; wing span: 56-68 cm
Weight: 50-90 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Black Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "niger"

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Pair of Black Terns in breeding plumage, possibly deciding on the suitability of this location for a nest site
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

Lateral view of a preening Black Tern in breeding plumage, showing clearly the characteristic near-white undertail coverts
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

Lateral view of a Black Tern in breeding plumage landing on a patch of reeds (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of a Black Tern in breeding plumage in flight, showing clearly the basically all-grey back, rump and tail, which distinguishes the species from the similar White-winged Black Tern (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a Black Tern in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Black Terns in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

NON-BREEDING

Lateral view of a Black Tern in non-breeding plumage in the middle of summer (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, July 2019]

Two Black Terns in non-breeding plumage, left, with for comparison two White-winged Black Terns, right, and a Black-headed Gull, front, all in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Near-frontal view of a Black Tern starting to moult into breeding plumage hunting in submerged pasture in the floodplain of a river (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2017]

Lateral views of two different phases of the wing beat of a Black Tern starting to moult into breeding plumage
(photos courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, July 2017]

Lateral view of a Black Tern in non-breeding plumage in a coastal habitat, wings up; note the characteristic grey breast patch [at the base of the wing] and the grey rump (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alcochete, Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2018]

Lateral view of a Black Tern in non-breeding plumage in a coastal habitat, wings down; note the characteristic grey breast patch [at the base of the wing] and the grey rump (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alcochete, Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Black Tern in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alcochete, Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Jul Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: 21 - 22 days Fledging age: 19 - 25 days

Nest building: Male & female Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Black Terns are colonial breeders and many nests may be found in relatively close proximity to each other.

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Aquatic plants Height above ground: N/A

Nests are usually floating platforms on water, but can be built on solid ground near water too.

Black Tern on its nest, left, while its partner is hunting nearby (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

(Presumably female) Black Tern, left, with its partner in attendance (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

(Presumably male) Black Tern, right, feeding its partner on the nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

Eggs

Size: 35 x 25 mm Colour: Gold-ochre, with big dark-brown and black speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

During the breeding season male Black Terns, left in this case, must prove to their partners that they are good providers by making them gifts of food. Although both adults take part in the incubation, this is usually a sign of the female taking on most of the incubation duties, thereby relying on the male for food.

Male Black Tern, right, bringing its partner a small fish (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

As soon as the transfer is complete, he is off on the hunt again (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

Black Terns in their natural habitat, a riverine marsh (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2017]

Food, Diet

Unlike species of "white terns", Black Terns do not dive deep into water to catch their prey, but take small fish and insects in-flight from near the water's surface or from plants.

This photo demonstrates the Black Terns' hunting technique (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza National Park, Poland, June 2016]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

blktern_dw_20190519.m4a (Poland) Contact calls © DW
blktern_dw_20190519_2.m4a (Poland) Contact calls © DW
blktern_dw_20200531.m4a (Poland) Contact calls? (in flight) © DW
blktern_dw_20200612.m4a (Poland) Contact calls? (mob in flight) © DW
blktern_dw_20200612_2.m4a (Poland) ? © DW

More Black Tern sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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