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− | [[Image:North American Black Tern.jpg|thumb|550px|right|North American Black Tern, Fall plumage. Photo by Dmitry Mozzheri <br />Location: Long Island, [[New York]] ]] | + | [[Image:North American Black Tern.jpg|thumb|550px|right|North American Black Tern, Fall plumage. Photo by {{user|Dmitry+Mozzheri|Dmitry Mozzheri}} <br />Location: Long Island, [[New York]] ]] |
;[[:Category:Chlidonias|Chlidonias]] niger | ;[[:Category:Chlidonias|Chlidonias]] niger | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
− | Breeding (May - ca. July): Black head, breast and belly. Uniform grey back, wings and rump/tail. White undertail. Bill black. Dark legs. | + | '''Breeding''' (May - ca. July): Black head, breast and belly. Uniform grey back, wings and rump/tail. White undertail. Bill black. Dark legs. |
− | Non-breeding: Underparts white, grey above. Falcon-like black hood. Characteristic black (or dark brown) line above shoulder, extending onto outer edges of breast. Legs orange/red. Bill black. Tail off-white with grey rump and upper tail coverts (white in [[White-winged Tern]] ''Chlidonias leucopterus''). | + | '''Non-breeding''': Underparts white, grey above. Falcon-like black hood. Characteristic black (or dark brown) line above shoulder, extending onto outer edges of breast. Legs orange/red. Bill black. Tail off-white with grey rump and upper tail coverts (white in [[White-winged Tern]] ''Chlidonias leucopterus''). |
− | Juvenile: Like non-breeding adult but with distinct buff/lighter edges to back feathers and coverts. | + | '''Juvenile''': Like non-breeding adult but with distinct buff/lighter edges to back feathers and coverts. |
− | [[Image:d07_0864.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male in flight. Photo by | + | [[Image:d07_0864.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male in flight. Photo by {{user|Nomdeploom|Nomdeploom}} <br />Location: Wainright, [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]]] |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
The range of the Black Tern is almost worldwide. | The range of the Black Tern is almost worldwide. | ||
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Freshwater lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, marshes, wet grassland, seacoast and estuaries. | Freshwater lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, marshes, wet grassland, seacoast and estuaries. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
+ | ====Diet==== | ||
The diet includes insects, invertebrates and fish. | The diet includes insects, invertebrates and fish. | ||
+ | ====Breeding==== | ||
They usually nest either on floating material in a marsh or on the ground very close to water, laying 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 21-22 days. The young fledge 19-25 days later. | They usually nest either on floating material in a marsh or on the ground very close to water, laying 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 21-22 days. The young fledge 19-25 days later. | ||
− | [[Image:d07_0865.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male in flight. Photo by | + | [[Image:d07_0865.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male in flight. Photo by {{user|Nomdeploom|Nomdeploom}} <br />Location: Wainright, [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]]] |
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== |
Revision as of 20:57, 4 March 2009
- Chlidonias niger
Identification
Breeding (May - ca. July): Black head, breast and belly. Uniform grey back, wings and rump/tail. White undertail. Bill black. Dark legs.
Non-breeding: Underparts white, grey above. Falcon-like black hood. Characteristic black (or dark brown) line above shoulder, extending onto outer edges of breast. Legs orange/red. Bill black. Tail off-white with grey rump and upper tail coverts (white in White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus).
Juvenile: Like non-breeding adult but with distinct buff/lighter edges to back feathers and coverts.
Distribution
The range of the Black Tern is almost worldwide.
Taxonomy
Chlidonias niger has two subspecies:
- C. n. niger; and
- C. n. surinamensis.
Habitat
Freshwater lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, marshes, wet grassland, seacoast and estuaries.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes insects, invertebrates and fish.
Breeding
They usually nest either on floating material in a marsh or on the ground very close to water, laying 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 21-22 days. The young fledge 19-25 days later.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Chlidonias niger (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
Lepage D. 2008. Avibase. Search for "Black Tern" downloaded 29 April 2008.
External Links