Black Tern

Chlidonias niger

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

23-25 cm (9-10") Fairly common. Inland lakes, marshes in summer, along coasts in migration. Solid black head and underparts. Dark gray back. Black bill.

In flight; short, slightly forked tail, uniformly light gray underwings, erratic flight.

Immature or Nonbreeding: white below with dark gray mantle and tail. Black bill. Dark cap extends to a dark ear patch. In flight; short slightly forked tail, light gray underwings, dark bar on side of breast. Underside may be all white or patchy black-and-white.

Song: sharp "kick".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Ted van den Bergh

In flight - Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge - Swanton, Vermont, US - June 19, 2012

Credit: Ken Sturm/USFWS

Credit: Ómar Runólfsson

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Black Terns

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Where it lives

Distribution map

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black Tern

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall

result:548-black-tern:1:1 Source: 548 Black Tern, row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter

result:548-black-tern:2:1 Source: 548 Black Tern, row 2