Forster's Tern

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The Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri), an almost exclusively North American Sterna species, splits its time between its summer breeding grounds in the Great Lakes and prairie regions and its coastal winter grounds.

The black cap, red legs and black-tipped red bill of the breeding adult population makes them very similar in appearance to the Common Tern. The white chest and belly of the Forster's Tern are the key field identification clues.

The picture shows a Forster's Tern in winter plumage. The dark comma mark across the face, the muted red legs and white belly serve as good winter plumage identification clues.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels