A medium tern with black cap (breeding) and white "earphones" (winter). Distinguished from Common Tern by white wing trailing edge.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Forster's tern is a tern in the family Laridae. The genus name Sterna is derived from Old English "stearn", "tern", and forsteri commemorates the naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster.
Source: Wikipedia — Forster's tern Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Pale gray-and-white tern with frosty silvery primaries (paler than the rest of the wing), an orange bill tipped black (breeding), and long forked tail. Winter birds show an isolated black ear patch.
Similar species. Common Tern shows a dark wedge in the outer primaries and a darker bill; the frosty wingtips and isolated winter eye-mask mark Forster's.
Voice. A nasal, grating 'kerr' and short 'kit' notes, lower than Common Tern.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Small fish caught by plunge-diving or surface-snatching.
Behavior. A marsh-nesting tern of North America that hovers and plunges for fish; in winter develops a distinctive black eye mask rather than a full cap.
§ Range
Across North America
§ Habitat
Coastal and inland marshes, lakes
§ Threats
Wetland loss, coastal habitat changes.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the forster's tern is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support marsh conservation. Maintain natural water systems.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Forster's tern
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Sterna forsteri
- IUCN Red List — search for Sterna forsteri
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Sterna forsteri
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
