Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
Black Terns breed in freshwater marshes across most of Canada, the northern United States and much of Europe and western Asia. Some scientists believe the North American subspecies (C. n. surinamensis) is a separate species. In the Americas, these birds usually spend winters in northern South America.
Capturing images of Black Terns in flight is a tricky proposition. Their movements are so airy and buoyant; they easily pop out of the frame. If observation is the only goal, it is exceptionally entertaining to watch the birds forage on the wing.
Studies show that since 1966 the population of Black Terns has decline by 2% a year and overall populations have been reduced by 57% between that time and 2014. Factors such as loss of habitat due to draining wetlands for agriculture and pesticide runoff are believed to be the likely causes of the decline.

Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 13:32 |
Location:
W F V Z |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/0 |
File Name: D3X4755-BlackTern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 13:33 |
Location:
W F V Z |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/1 |
File Name: D3X4757-BlackTern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: In flight is the usual way these birds are seen. Near the Headquarters of Malheur NWR south of Burns in eastern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 11:34 |
Location:
Visitor Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X7587-BlackTern |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: In flight is the usual way these birds are seen. Near the Headquarters of Malheur NWR south of Burns in eastern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 11:34 |
Location:
Visitor Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X7589-BlackTern |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: In flight is the usual way these birds are seen. Near the Headquarters of Malheur NWR south of Burns in eastern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 11:35 |
Location:
Visitor Center |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X7626-BlackTern |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: In flight is the usual way these birds are seen. The wetlands north of Frenchglen and "The P Ranch" in Malheur NWR in eastern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 17:09 |
Location:
Center Patrol Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X8012-BlackTern |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: In flight is the usual way these birds are seen. The wetlands north of Frenchglen and "The P Ranch" in Malheur NWR in eastern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:03 17:11 |
Location:
Center Patrol Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X8036-BlackTern |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Adult nonbreeding bird at the beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 17:50 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD3202.BlackTern |
© 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Presumed adult, postbreeding bird at the beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 18:25 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: JCD3353.BlackTern |
© 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Presumed adult, postbreeding bird at the beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 19:33 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD3716.BlackTern |
© 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: I'm guessing this bird is in transition molt from breeding to nonbreeding plumage. The beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 19:36 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD3757.BlackTern |
© 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Sunset fishing at the beach near Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 19:48 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD3850.BlackTern |
© 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Alamo River Delta, Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:18 11:28 |
Location:
Fondo |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_8820BlackTern |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Southeastern shore of the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:07:26 10:24 |
Location:
Salton Sea |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6695-BlackTern |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Southeastern shore of the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:07:26 10:17 |
Location:
Salton Sea |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6658-BlackTern |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Black Tern(Chlidonias niger) |
Description: Southeastern shore of the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:07:26 10:17 |
Location:
Salton Sea |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6657-BlackTern |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |

Click map markers to reveal further information