ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Black Tern

Black Tern

Photo by Richard Day/Daybreak Imagery

The black tern is a casual to rare resident in Lucas, Ottawa, Erie, and Sandusky counties as well as on North Bass, Middle Bass, and Kelleys islands during breeding season. The Ohio Division of Wildlife lists this bird as endangered.

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Black Tern

Chlidonias niger

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: May-August

• Incubation: 22 days

• Clutch Size: 3 eggs

• Typical Foods: insects, which are often "hawked" out of the air, and fish

Description
The black tern, in breeding season, has a black head, neck, and underparts with generally dark feathers. In the fall, it becomes lighter with gray wings. The tail is small and is only slightly notched compared with other terns. Its bill is very sharp and slender, shorter than the head and the wings are long and pointed.

Habitat and Habits
The black tern prefers large undisturbed inland marshes with fairly dense vegetation and pockets of open water. They nest in various kinds of marsh vegetation, but cattail marshes are generally favored.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
This species is quite gregarious and usually nests in colonies. Nests are built on top of muskrat houses or on top of floating vegetation. Eggs are laid from May to early August. Black terns do not breed until they are fully mature at two years of age.