(Taxonomy expanded. Reference) |
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The range of the Black Tern is almost worldwide. | The range of the Black Tern is almost worldwide. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ||
Chlidonias niger has two subspecies: | Chlidonias niger has two subspecies: | ||
| − | *''C. n. niger''; | + | *''C. n. niger'' (Eurasian): |
| − | *''C. n. surinamensis'' | + | :*[[Western Palearctic]]; winters in [[Africa]] |
| + | *''C. n. surinamensis'' (North American): | ||
| + | :*Northern [[North America]]; winters [[Central America]] and northern [[South America]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Freshwater lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, marshes, wet grassland, seacoast and estuaries. | Freshwater lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs, marshes, wet grassland, seacoast and estuaries. | ||
| Line 19: | Line 22: | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
The diet includes insects, invertebrates and fish. | The diet includes insects, invertebrates and fish. | ||
| − | |||
====Breeding==== | ====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 {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br />Location: Wainright, [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]]] | [[Image:d07_0865.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male in flight. Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br />Location: Wainright, [[Alberta]], [[Canada]]]] | ||
| − | |||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
<flashmp3>Chlidonias niger (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Chlidonias niger (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Chlidonias niger (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Chlidonias niger (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | Lepage D. 2008. [http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/ Avibase]. Search for "Black Tern" downloaded 29 April 2008. | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Lepage D. 2008. [http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/ Avibase]. Search for "Black Tern" downloaded 29 April 2008. |
| − | + | {{ref}} | |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Chlidonias+niger}} | {{GSearch|Chlidonias+niger}} | ||
Revision as of 21:53, 28 August 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
Subspecies[1]
Chlidonias niger has two subspecies:
- C. n. niger (Eurasian):
- Western Palearctic; winters in Africa
- C. n. surinamensis (North American):
- Northern North America; winters Central America and northern South America
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
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Lepage D. 2008. Avibase. Search for "Black Tern" downloaded 29 April 2008.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black Tern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black_Tern
External Links
