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.eggA clutch of eggs is incubated in the nest, kept warm by a brooding parent until the chicks pip free.
- 2.hatchlingA naked or downy hatchling is fed in the nest by its parents.
- 3.juvenileA feathered juvenile fledges from the nest and learns to fly and forage.
- 4.adultFully grown with adult plumage.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Laridae
- Genus
- Chlidonias
- Species
- Chlidonias niger