Forster’s Tern Images, Facts and Information:
Sterna forsteri
- Forster’s Terns are medium sized terns with white underparts and pale gray upperparts, short red legs, thin, orange bills with black tips and a black cap in breeding plumage. They have long, forked tails. In nonbreeding plumage they have a black comma shaped ear patch.
- Forster’s Terns are migratory although it is the only tern found in North America throughout the year.
- During the breeding season their preferred habit includes marshes with lots of open water and islands with vegetation.
- Forster’s Terns eat fish and small arthropods.
- Forster’s Terns lay 1 to 6 eggs which hatch in 23 to 25 days. Both sexes incubate and they are monogamous.
- A group of terns can be called a “ternery” of terns.
- Forster’s Terns can live up to 16 years.
I hope you enjoy viewing my Forster’s Tern photos.
Forster’s Tern hovering over a marsh
Title: Forster’s Tern hovering over a marsh
Location: Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Juab County, Utah
Date: 5/25/2011
Forster’s Tern mated pair on nest
Title: Forster’s Tern mated pair on nest
Location: Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/30/2010
Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage on nest
Title: Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage on nest
Location: Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/30/2010
Forster’s Tern in early morning light
Title: Forster’s Tern in early morning light
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 2/13/2009
Nonbreeding Forster’s Tern on the Gulf coast
Title: Nonbreeding Forster’s Tern on the Gulf coast
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 2/13/2009
Forster’s Tern in flight over the Gulf
Title: Forster’s Tern in flight over the Gulf
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 1/6/2009
An elegant Forster’s Tern in flight
Title: An elegant Forster’s Tern in flight
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 1/6/2009
Forster’s Tern in front of a dark colored wave
Title: Forster’s Tern in front of a dark colored wave
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 10/10/2008
Forster’s Tern on wet sand
Title: Forster’s Tern on wet sand
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 10/10/2008
Forster’s Tern in front of a light colored wave
Title: Forster’s Tern in front of a light colored wave
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 10/10/2008
Forster’s Tern stretching its wings
Title: A Forster’s Tern stretching its wings
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 8/24/2008
Forster’s Tern wing lift
Title: Forster’s Tern wing lift
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 8/24/2008
Dancing Forster’s Tern
Title: Dancing Forster’s Tern
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 8/24/2008
Forster’s Tern and friend
Title: Forster’s Tern and friend
Location: Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Date: 8/24/2008