Black Tern
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
Aves
UNCOMMON

Stats

Lifespan
10-16 yrs
Size
Small
Diet
Insectivore
Activity
Diurnal
Social
Colony
Biome
Freshwater wetland
Range
North America, Europe
Movement
Flight
Breeding
Egg-laying
Defense
Speed
Status
Uncommon

About

This small dark bird nests in marshes across North America and Europe. It catches insects mid-air by skimming the water surface with its bill.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    egg
    A clutch of eggs is incubated in the nest, kept warm by a brooding parent until the chicks pip free.
  2. 2.
    hatchling
    A naked or downy hatchling is fed in the nest by its parents.
  3. 3.
    juvenile
    A feathered juvenile fledges from the nest and learns to fly and forage.
  4. 4.
    adult
    Fully grown with adult plumage.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Laridae
Genus
Chlidonias
Species
Chlidonias niger