Black TernBlack Tern -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 9-10 inches | Wingspan: 20-24 inches | Seasonality: Summer |
| ID Keys: Distinctive, head and body mostly black, wings and tail gray. dark red legs and feet | ||
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
A black bodied tern that is easily identifiable in South Dakota, especially in its dark breeding plumage. The bird at the right is a first-summer young bird, and has similar plumage to a winter plumage adult. They lead a unique life, nesting on freshwater marshes in the interior of North America, while wintering at sea around South America. They gracefully pluck food items in flight from the surface of the water. They will also chase flying insects, including those stirred up by farm equipment.
Habitat: Marshes, ponds, lakes, flooded fields..
Diet: Mostly insects and fish, also frogs and tadpoles, earthworms, and crustaceans.
Nesting: June
Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey Map
Song: Harsh kik-kik-kik-kik.
Migrations: Winters along northern coasts of South America.
Status: Populations have declined sharply in the past 40 years, likely due to drainage of wetlands required for nesting. Farm chemical runoff is another possible reason.
Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Black Tern
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Black Tern"
Photo Information: August 1st, 2004 -- Lake Thompson -- Terry Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Black Tern photos.
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| South Dakota Status: Common migrant and summer breeding resident in the east, uncommon in the west. |
Proud Member Of:
Range Map Reference: NatureServe
Click here for other references used to compile this page
Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08
