The only adult American black tern ever recorded in the UK has hatched a hybrid chick with an Arctic tern at a reserve on the Northumberland coast, marking a rare and cautiously celebrated event.
Seventh Year Return at Long Nanny
Rangers at Long Nanny shorebird site, near Beadnell Bay, first spotted the American black tern in the summer of 2020. It has returned every year since, believed to have been blown off course during migration seven summers ago. Initially named Nigel, the bird was renamed Nigella in 2024 after laying three eggs, none of which hatched. This year, after mating with an Arctic tern, her first chick has hatched.
James Porteus, the National Trust's lead ranger for the Northumberland Coast, said: "We're so excited to see Nigella, our returning American black tern, successfully hatch a chick with her Arctic tern partner at Long Nanny. This is her seventh consecutive season returning to the site and, after an unsuccessful nesting attempt in 2024, this is a really special moment."
Cautious Optimism for Chick's Survival
Despite the excitement, Porteus emphasized challenges ahead. "That said, we're approaching this news with cautious optimism. The chick only hatched over the weekend and at this early stage it's very vulnerable to weather, disturbance and predation. There is also often a higher mortality rate among hybrid chicks because of genetic incompatibilities between the parent species, but our ranger team will be doing everything they can to give it the best possible chance, with staff on site 24/7 to monitor and protect this bird and the rest of the tern colony. We're asking all visitors to play their part by keeping dogs on a very short lead and follow all diversion signage to help minimise disturbance."
Ornithologist's Perspective on Hybridization
Tom Cadwallender, an ornithologist living in Northumberland, described the event as fascinating. "It (the American black tern) is an exceptionally rare bird. Black terns are marsh terns which are slightly different to the sea terns that we have in the UK. A number of American species have come over here after getting blown off course, and a number will live lives on this side of the Atlantic though some will try to cross back over. At some point it must have got mixed into European and African migration patterns. It is absolutely fascinating."
Cadwallender noted that hybridization is rare and that if the chick fledges, it is unlikely to reproduce, similar to mules being infertile.
Importance of Long Nanny Colony
Long Nanny is a vital nesting colony for Arctic terns, ringed plover, and little terns—the UK's second rarest seabird. From May to July, a section of coast between Beadnell and High Newton is roped off to protect nesting grounds, but the public can observe the birds from designated areas.
