Chlidonias niger

The Black Tern is classified as Regionally Extinct (RE). It became extinct subsequent to the drainage of the Hula Lake in the 1950s, and no nesting attempts of the species in Israel have been observed since then (it is now seen only as a passage migrant). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as regionally extinct (RE).

Habitats	Wetland Thickets
Presence In Israel	Summer Breeder, Migrant
Nesting In Israel	Past Breeder
Migration Types	Long Range
Zoography Zones	Mediterranean
Landscape Formations	Swamps, Wetlands, Freshwater Bodies
Vegetation Formations	Wetland Thickets
Vegetation Densities	Low
Nest Locations	Wetland Thickets
Diet Types	Invertebrate, Fish
Foraging Grounds	Water
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Wetland Drainage & Pollution

The Black Tern is a relatively small, delicate tern. Like most marsh terns, its flight is nimble and lively, and it frequently collects small insects over the water. Summer plumage is almost completely black. It has long narrow wings, a short tail and a narrow, delicate bill.

The Black Tern is a relatively rare passage migrant, more common in spring (a few tens) and an extremely rare non-breeding summer visitor in the Northern Valleys. Formerly nested in the Hula Valley; about 20 pairs nested on the northern shores of the Hula Lake until 1956. Breeding ceased subsequent to the drainage of the lake (Paz 1986, Shirihai 1996).

The Black Tern breeds in marshes, lakes and ponds surrounded by thickets of submersed and floating vegetation. The nest is built on floating vegetation or on the ground near the water.

No efforts have been made to restore the Black Tern as a breeder to Israel. The probability of the species returning to breed without specific restoration efforts is low, as there are no large water bodies with submersed and floating vegetation thickets.

The Black Tern became extinct as a breeder in Israel during the drainage of the Hula Lake, in the 1950s. The probability of the species returning to nest in Israel naturally is estimated to be low.

The Black Tern has a broad Holarctic range. It inhabits shallow, clear inland water bodies. It feeds mainly on small fish and a variety of aquatic invertebrates. Most of its populations are migratory.

• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International