Forster’s Tern
(Sterna forsteri)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding S3B - Vulnerable Breeding |
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| Minnesota | Special Concern Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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The bill and legs are orange. The underparts are white. The tail is gray with white outer edges. |
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Size |
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14″ to 16″ in length 31″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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Similar Species |
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Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) is a much larger bird. The bill is reddish-orange. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) bill and legs are darker red. The underparts are grayish. The tail is white with gray outer edges. The call is higher pitched and longer in duration. |
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Habitat |
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Breeding: large marshes with open water Migration: lakes and marshes |
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Ecology |
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Migration |
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Early April to mid-May and August to early October |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Small fish, aquatic invertebrates, and flying insects |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Common migrant |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Charadriiformes (shorebirds and allies) | ||
Family |
Laridae (gulls, terns, and skimmers) | ||
Subfamily |
Sterninae (terns and noddies) | ||
Genus |
Sterna (typical terns) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Visitor Photos |
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James Folden |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Forster's Tern JMC Nature Photos |
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| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) Joshua Mayer |
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| Foster's Tern in Flight marshalljedediah |
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About
Uploaded on May 16, 2007 Photos of a Foster's Tern in flight. Newport Bay, CA. 5/16/07 |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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| Forster's Tern 2 (Panasonic GH2 + 100-300mm) MackM48 |
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About
Uploaded on May 12, 2011 Panasonic GH2 + 100-300mm |
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| Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri, preening. Rob Curtis |
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About
Published on Apr 23, 2014 Forster's Terns, Sterna forsteri preening |
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| Forster's and Common Tern Quiz Andrew Reago |
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About
Published on Sep 3, 2012 On 9/1/2012, I digiscoped some Forster's Terns visiting Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Alton, Missouri. I thought they were all Forster's, until Bill Rudden pointed out that I might want to look again and see if there was a Common Tern amongst the bunch. And guess what? There was. Have fun finding the Common Tern. My wife Chrissy McClarren helped create this quiz. Thanks Bill! |
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| Forster's Tern, Hwy 99 NE of Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada June 6 2014 Sask Birder |
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About
Published on Nov 23, 2014 Forster's Tern, Hwy 99 NE of Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada June 6 2014 |
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| Juvenile Forster's Tern Brian Kushner |
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About
Published on Aug 21, 2014 Juvenile Forster's Tern - Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - Oceanville NJ |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| James Folden 5/7/2023 |
Location: Lake Washington, LeSueur County |
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| Todd C 5/10/2022 |
Location: Burnsville, MN have been seeing these circling and diving on Crystal Lake for about ten days now. Very white or light gray back. At first I thought this was Common Tern, but looking closer and researching online for differences, I am confident it is Forster’s Tern. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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