Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
- HABITAT - Black Terns breed in Canada and the north of the United States, and winters in Central America and the north of South America. There is also a European population that ranges from southern Spain to southern Scandinavia, and eastwards through Asia to central Mongolia. It also a migratory bird as it winters mainly on the African west coast, as far down as South Africa. Black Terns build floating nests in loose colonies in shallow marshes, especially in cattails.
- DIET - Black Terns forage in flight, dipping to surface of water or shore to pick up items, sometimes pursuing flying insects in the air. Infrequently, they may dive into water after prey. Their diet mostly consists of insects but also eat small fish, tadpoles, frogs, spiders and worms. In migration and winter at sea, eats mostly small fish, also some crustaceans and insects.
- FACTS - An area near where we live had a small colony of Black Terns and some are showcased here. Unfortunately, the birds have not been back to breed here in the last few years. All of the North American population has declined sharply since the 1960s. Loss of nesting habitat owing to drainage of wetlands, runoff of farm chemicals and human disturbance as all contributing factors. Loss of food supply on the wintering grounds, owing to local overfishing, may also be a factor.
Black Tern GALLERY
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