- Forster's Tern
Taxobox
name = Forster's Tern
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
image_width = 250px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Charadriiformes
familia =Sternidae
genus = "Sterna "
species = "S. forsteri"
binomial = "Sterna forsteri"
binomial_authority = Nuttall,1834 The Forster's Tern, "Sterna forsteri", is a
seabird of thetern family Sternidae. It breeds inland inNorth America and winters south to theCaribbean and northernSouth America .This species is rare but annual in western
Europe , and has wintered inIreland andGreat Britain on a number of occasions. No European tern winters so far north.This species breeds in colonies in marshes. It nests in a ground scrape and lays three 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 marshes. It usually feeds from saline environments in winter, like most "Sterna" terns. It usually dives directly, and not from the "stepped-hover" favoured by the
Arctic Tern . The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.This is a small tern, 33-36cm long with a 64-70cm wingspan. It is most similar to the
Common Tern . It has pale grey upperparts and white underparts. Its legs are red and its bill is red, tipped with black. In winter, the forehead becomes white and a characteristic black eyemask remains. Juvenile Forster's Terns are similar to the winter adult. The call is a harsh noise like aBlack-headed Gull .This species is unlikely to be confused with the Common Tern in winter because of the black eyemask, but is much more similar in breeding plumage. Forster's has a grey centre to its white tail, and the upperwings are pure white, without the darker primary wedge of Common.
This bird is named after the naturalist
Johann Reinhold Forster .References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "National Geographic" "Field Guide to the Birds of North America" ISBN 0-7922-6877-6
* "Seabirds" by Harrison, ISBN 0709912072
* "Terns of Europe and North America" by Olsen and Larsson, ISBN 0-7136-4056-1External links
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Forsters_Tern.html Forster's Tern Species Account] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0690id.html Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/forsters_tern_info.htm Forster's Tern Information and Photos] - South Dakota Birds and Birding
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/birdguide/pool/tags/Sterna%20forsteri Field Guide Page on Flickr]
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