Black Tern

Black Tern looks light and quick, especially on the wing. In breeding plumage, the dark head and underparts stand out against the grey upper side, and its call is short and sharp, like a clipped “kik”.

It stays in noisy colonies near water, spends much of its time over the surface, and picks up food in flight or from floating plants. It rarely dives, and its movement feels lively and agile.

In spring and summer it is a familiar sight around lakes, marshes, and other waters, mainly in eastern, southern, and central Europe. It feeds on insects, small fish, and other small prey, then leaves for tropical Africa in winter.