Birds
Zwarte stern in vlucht boven water

Black Tern

Black Tern

50
1 day ago door Judith
Spotted
The Black Tern is a small, agile tern of inland wetlands, known for its dark sooty-grey body in breeding plumage and buoyant, often erratic flight. It primarily feeds on insects, frequently caught in flight.
Where to spot
Found in freshwater marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers in North America and Europe for breeding. They winter along coastal areas of South America and Africa.
How to spot
In breeding plumage, look for the dark head, body, and underwings with a contrasting pale tail. In non-breeding plumage, they are paler, but still retain a dark patch behind the eye and maintain their distinctive, graceful flight. Watch for their almost butterfly-like flight as they chase insects.
When to spot
Best observed during their breeding season from late spring to summer in their northern range. They can also be seen during spring and autumn migration periods.
Black Tern
Zwarte stern in vlucht boven water
Black Tern
Credits: hans zwitzer
Zwarte stern in vlucht boven water
Credits: By Cephas - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10803886
Black Terns rarely plunge-dive for fish, preferring to scoop insects from the water's surface or catch them mid-air, a feeding strategy more akin to swallows or gulls than typical terns.
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Spotted

Recently spotted
364 (Seen in the last 3 months)
Last spotted
1 day ago door Judith

Monthly observations

65 observations
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Judith
Judith
1 day ago
Black Tern
Kampen, Overijssel
Spotted Black Tern
Spotted Black Tern
+6
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Simeon
Simeon
3 days ago
Black Tern
Elst, Gelderland
Spotted Black Tern
Spotted Black Tern
+25
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Simeon
Simeon
1 week ago
Black Tern
Elst, Gelderland
Spotted Black Tern
Spotted Black Tern
+50
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Judith
Judith
1 week ago
Black Tern
Kampen, Overijssel
Spotted Black Tern
Spotted Black Tern
+13
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Maarten Liefting
Maarten Liefting
2 weeks ago
Black Tern
Kampen, Overijssel
Spotted Black Tern
Spotted Black Tern
+65
Lifer
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Judith
Judith
2 weeks ago
Black Tern
Kampen, Overijssel
Spotted Black Tern
Spotted Black Tern
+25
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Judith
Judith
3 weeks ago
Black Tern
Wilsum, Overijssel
Spotted Black Tern
Spotted Black Tern
+50
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S
Sierd Heida
3 weeks ago
Black Tern
Bemmel, Gelderland
Spotted Black Tern
Spotted Black Tern
+65
Lifer
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