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Black Tern

Chlidonias niger

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Black Tern, photographed by nancylightfoot

Photo: nancylightfoot · iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC 4.0 (licence)

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Call and song

About the Black Tern

Small tern with an entirely black body in breeding plumage with silvery wings. In the winter, their body is whitish-gray and they are not as conspicuous, but note small size, rather dark gray wings and rump, and black "helmet." Breeds in colonies in freshwater marshes and ponds. Builds a floating nest of plant matter. In migration and winter, often found in flocks. Feeds on insects and small fish.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 150 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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