Photo: USGov / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
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The Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) is a member of the Laridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 65.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Chlidonias
- Species niger
Where it lives
Inland temperate Canada, USA and Europe to central Asia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 65.3 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Vulnerable
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL inland temperate Canada, USA and Europe to c Asia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 65.3 g, with a wing length of about 20.2 cm and a tail of around 7.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 12.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Tern?
The Black Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 65.3 g.
Where does the Black Tern live?
The Black Tern is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL inland temperate Canada, USA and Europe to c Asia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black Tern belong to?
The Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Black Tern eat?
The Black Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Black Tern migrate?
The Black Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Black Tern endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Black Tern — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Tern's range?
The Black Tern has a mapped global range of about 12.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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