The Black Tern is a marsh tern and it breeds at marshes, bogs and other wetlands in Europe, Asia and North America. During the northern winter they migrate south to the coasts of Africa in the case of the Eurasian population and to the coasts of Central and South America in the case of the North American population. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

Note that some authorities treat the North American population as a distinct species American Black Tern C. surinamensis.