Forster's tern
Sterna forsteri
Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri) is a tern in the family Laridae.
About the Forster's tern
Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri) 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. It breeds inland in North America in the northern United States and southern Canada, and migrates south to winter in the southern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and northern Central America. It is also a rare but annual vagrant in western Europe, and has wintered in Ireland and Great Britain on a number of occasions. This species breeds in colonies in marshes. It nests in a ground scrape and lays two or more eggs. Like all white terns, it is fiercely defensive of its nest and young. The Forster's tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, but will also hawk for insects in its breeding marshe
Fun Facts About Forster's tern
- This species is unlikely to be confused with the common tern in winter because of the black eye mask, but is much more similar in breeding plumage.
- This is a medium-small tern, 33–36 cm (13–14 in) long with a 78–80 cm (31–31 in) wingspan and a weight ranging from 130 to 190 g (4.6-6.7 oz).
- This species breeds in colonies in marshes.
- The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.
- The call is similar to that of common terns, but also some harsher sounds suggestive of a small gull like Bonaparte's gull.
Conservation Status
The Forster's tern is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.
Taxonomy & Classification
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Sternidae |
| Genus | Sterna |
| Species | Sterna forsteri |
Range & Habitat
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