Black Tern vs Mediterranean Gull
Chlidonias niger compared with Larus melanocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black Tern | Mediterranean Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlidonias niger | Larus melanocephalus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 40.3 cm (15.9 in) | 60.5 cm (23.8 in) |
| Weight | 73.15 g (2.58 oz) | 282.5 g (9.96 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Black Tern
Least Concern
Mediterranean Gull
About These Birds
Black Tern
Black Tern, 22–24 cm, breeds on freshwater marshes of North America and Eurasia. Breeding plumage: sooty black body, grey wings. Insectivore and piscivore; buoyant, dipping flight over wetlands. Migratory; winters off West African coasts and in tropical America. Declining in Europe.
Mediterranean Gull
Mediterranean Gull, 36–38 cm, has expanded dramatically since the 1970s, breeding across Europe from the Black Sea to Britain. Pure white body, jet-black hood in breeding plumage — the only gull with entirely white wingtips. Piscivore and invertivore; nests in colonies, often with Black-headed Gulls.