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Birds by name

Black tern

Conservation status: Amber

A small tern with an all-black head and body, contrasting with grey wings, back and tail in spring; autumn birds have grey upperparts, white underparts and distinctive black head markings. Feeds by dipping down and picking food from the surface of water. Has occasionally bred in the UK.

Overview

Latin name

Chlidonias niger

Family

Terns (Sternidae)

Where to see them

Freshwater lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, almost anywhere.

When to see them

Best looked for in May, on spring passage, and from July to September on autumn passage.

What they eat

Insects, invertebrates and fish.

Population

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
83-170,000 pairs--Hundreds

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

In the UK
On passage, over lakes
In Europe
From Denmark, south to Spain, east to Russia
Worldwide
N and S America, Europe, Africa, Asia

Illustrations

Audio

Niels Krabbe, Xeno-canto

Characteristics

Black tern (breeding)

Black tern - breeding plumage
  • Size: between robin-blackbird
  • Feather colours: black, white, grey
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey
  • Beak length: medium
  • Beak thickness: medium
  • Leg colour: black/grey, brown
  • Behaviour: part of flock, catches insects in flight

Black tern (winter)

Black tern - juvenile
  • Size: between robin-blackbird
  • Feather colours: black, white, grey
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey
  • Beak length: medium
  • Beak thickness: medium
  • Leg colour: black/grey, brown
  • Behaviour: part of flock, catches insects in flight