General

Black Tern: Small tern with black head and underparts. Back, wings, and tail are silver-gray. Vent is white; legs are dark red but may appear black. Sexes are similar. Winter adult is pale gray above with black patch covering ears and nape on a white head. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but has a scaled appearance.

Range and Habitat

Black Tern: Nests across northern U.S. and southern Canada; spends winters in South America. Preferred habitats include lakes, ponds, marshes, and coastal areas.

Breeding and Nesting

Black Tern: Two to four buff to olive eggs with black, brown and green blotches are laid in a floating nest made of dead plants. Nest is sometimes built on top of a muskrat house. Incubation ranges from 17 to 22 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Black Tern: Feeds on insects, crayfish, small mollusks, and fish. 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.

Vocalization

Black Tern: Call is a high pitched, shrill, metallic sound given frequently, especially when intruders are near nest.

Similar Species

Black Tern: White-winged Tern, accidental in U.S., has white upperwings, white rump and tail, and black axillaries in breeding plumage.