HABITAT/DIET

During the non-breeding season the Black Tern is found in the coast of Mexico and South where they will eat mostly small fish that they can find on the surface of the water. When the Black Tern migrates to the plains of Canada and northern United States where there are large expanses of wetlands for Black Terns to nest. Black Terns normally so not nest where there is a lot of  open space especially near other wetlands. During the breeding season the Black Tern consumes mostly insects including dragonflies, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders and will occasionally consume fish if they are in the habitat.

BEHAVIOR

Nests are made as soon as pair formations have formed and are made of dead vegetation collected directly from the vicinity of the nest site where it is then gathered in a cup. Usually because the nest is situated on top of the water the nest is frequently saturated with water and falls apart easily and so the parents have to continually reinforce the nest all season. Eggs are laid synchronously with other Black Tern pairs and 3 eggs are commonly laid in a clutch. After the eggs are laid both the female and the male will incubate the eggs until around 21 days when the eggs hatch.  After this the young terns learn over the course of 15 days how to recognize their parent, how to eat and how to move around. After this learning period the young and parents move to an open feeding area where the parents will feed their chicks and the young terns will practice hunting for insects and fish.

WHERE TO FIND THEM

Black Terns are only commonly found in Western New York during the summer in Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge at Cayuga overlook. They are also seen during migratory season near the Niagara River.