The Black Tern breeds in loose colonies in freshwater wetlands. It is uncommon but widespread in Canada. Results from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest that the national population has decreased by about 65% relative to 1970, though large declines may have taken place prior to the initiation of population monitoring. Black Terns continue to be threatened by the loss or degradation of the wetlands used for breeding and foraging. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Black Terns prefer to breed in large wetland complexes (Naugle et al. 2000), and the loss and degradation of these habitats represents the single greatest threat to the species in Canada (Heath et al. 2009). However, Black Terns will use artificial or restored wetlands, emphasizing the value of active habitat management at an appropriate scale (Zimmerman et al. 2002).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
