Black Tern

Seen one? Add it to your free UK BirdedexHear its song and see the mapFree, no app download. Rare bird: +8 points when you log it.

Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Reservoirs (passage).
Diet: Insects, small fish.
Best time to spot: Hawks insects over water.

When to look

A passage migrant. Look for it on spring and autumn movements rather than through the summer. Numbers peak in April. See the April birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in British seabirds.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Black Tern sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• White-winged TernRare · Marshes (rare passage)
• Whiskered TernEpic · Inland freshwater marshes
• Little GullRare · Coast
• American Golden PloverRare · Coastal turf (autumn passage)
• Black KiteRare · Open country (passage)
• Black-necked GrebeRare · Reservoirs

Kit that helps

Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.