Black Tern
Facts
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Location: In or near inland water in Europe and North America
Lifespan: About 5 to 15 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Location: In or near inland water in Europe and North America
Lifespan: About 5 to 15 years
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Chlidonias
Species: C. niger
Binomial name: Chlidonias niger
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Chlidonias
Species: C. niger
Binomial name: Chlidonias niger
Description
Length: About 25 cm (9.75 in)
Weight: 62 g (2.2 oz)
Wingspan: 61 cm (24 in)
Other: They have short dark legs and a short, weak-looking black bill, nearly as long as the head. The bill is long, slender, and looks slightly decurved. They have a dark grey back, with a white forehead, black head, neck (occasionally suffused with gray in the adult) and belly, black or blackish-brown cap (which unites in color with the ear coverts, forming an almost complete hood), and a light brownish-grey, 'square' tail. The face is white. There is a big dark triangular patch in front of the eye, and a broadish white collar in juveniles. There are grayish-brown smudges on the ides of the white breast, a downwards extension of the plumage of the upperparts. These marks vary in size and are not conspicuous. In non-breeding plumage, most of the black, apart from the cap, is replaced by grey. The plumage of the upperparts is drab, with pale feather-edgings. The rump is brownish-gray.
Length: About 25 cm (9.75 in)
Weight: 62 g (2.2 oz)
Wingspan: 61 cm (24 in)
Other: They have short dark legs and a short, weak-looking black bill, nearly as long as the head. The bill is long, slender, and looks slightly decurved. They have a dark grey back, with a white forehead, black head, neck (occasionally suffused with gray in the adult) and belly, black or blackish-brown cap (which unites in color with the ear coverts, forming an almost complete hood), and a light brownish-grey, 'square' tail. The face is white. There is a big dark triangular patch in front of the eye, and a broadish white collar in juveniles. There are grayish-brown smudges on the ides of the white breast, a downwards extension of the plumage of the upperparts. These marks vary in size and are not conspicuous. In non-breeding plumage, most of the black, apart from the cap, is replaced by grey. The plumage of the upperparts is drab, with pale feather-edgings. The rump is brownish-gray.
Behaviour
The Black Tern has a call that is a high pitched, shrill, metallic sound given frequently, especially when intruders are near the nest. The Black Tern is monogamous, which means that a pair will stay together for the rest of their lives in order to breed together. Also, the Black Tern lives in groups or colonies. Therefore, this species is very social, and definitely not territorial. Black Terns swoop to pluck food from the water's surface; they rarely plunge-dive under the water. They will also forage in flight, snatching flying insects out of the air. Highly social, they often forage in flocks. In the fall, Black Terns gather at feeding sites that are often north of breeding colonies, and then migrate south in groups. Spring migration is more direct, and migration, during both seasons, is usually over land. It appears that Black Terns nesting in the west may move south to the coast of Mexico, and then continue further south offshore.
The Black Tern has a call that is a high pitched, shrill, metallic sound given frequently, especially when intruders are near the nest. The Black Tern is monogamous, which means that a pair will stay together for the rest of their lives in order to breed together. Also, the Black Tern lives in groups or colonies. Therefore, this species is very social, and definitely not territorial. Black Terns swoop to pluck food from the water's surface; they rarely plunge-dive under the water. They will also forage in flight, snatching flying insects out of the air. Highly social, they often forage in flocks. In the fall, Black Terns gather at feeding sites that are often north of breeding colonies, and then migrate south in groups. Spring migration is more direct, and migration, during both seasons, is usually over land. It appears that Black Terns nesting in the west may move south to the coast of Mexico, and then continue further south offshore.
Predators or Prey?
There are no predators towards Black Terns. Although, there are threats towards the Black Tern; including human disturbances, water pollution, and wetland drainage and alteration. The Black Tern forages by seizing prey at or near the water surface, darting quickly into the water from the air with the bill pointed down; also catches insects in air, especially during swarms.
There are no predators towards Black Terns. Although, there are threats towards the Black Tern; including human disturbances, water pollution, and wetland drainage and alteration. The Black Tern forages by seizing prey at or near the water surface, darting quickly into the water from the air with the bill pointed down; also catches insects in air, especially during swarms.
Diet
The Black Tern's diet consists of insects, crayfish, small mollusks, and fish.
The Black Tern's diet consists of insects, crayfish, small mollusks, and fish.
Habitat
The Black Tern nests across northern U.S. and southern Canada, and spends winters in South America. The preferred habitats of the Black Tern include lakes, ponds, marshes, and coastal areas. A marsh-breeding bird, the Black Tern nests in freshwater wetlands in Eastern Washington, mostly east of the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers. For nesting, it requires habitat with extensive, cover-providing, vegetation as well as open water. During migration, it uses large lakes and coastlines. In winter, it can be found along productive marine coastlines, lagoons and estuaries, especially off the Pacific Coast of Panama.
The Black Tern nests across northern U.S. and southern Canada, and spends winters in South America. The preferred habitats of the Black Tern include lakes, ponds, marshes, and coastal areas. A marsh-breeding bird, the Black Tern nests in freshwater wetlands in Eastern Washington, mostly east of the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers. For nesting, it requires habitat with extensive, cover-providing, vegetation as well as open water. During migration, it uses large lakes and coastlines. In winter, it can be found along productive marine coastlines, lagoons and estuaries, especially off the Pacific Coast of Panama.
Conservation
The North American population has declined in recent times due to loss of habitat. Point Pelee National Park in Canada boasts a robust population of black terns. The Black Tern is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
The North American population has declined in recent times due to loss of habitat. Point Pelee National Park in Canada boasts a robust population of black terns. The Black Tern is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Reproduction
There are usually two to four buff to olive eggs with black, brown and green blotches are laid in a floating nest made of dead plants. The nest is sometimes built on top of a muskrat house. The incubation ranges from 17 to 22 days and is carried out by both parents.
There are usually two to four buff to olive eggs with black, brown and green blotches are laid in a floating nest made of dead plants. The nest is sometimes built on top of a muskrat house. The incubation ranges from 17 to 22 days and is carried out by both parents.
