Forster's Tern -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 15 inches | Wingspan: 30 inches | Seasonality: Summer/Migrant |
| ID Keys: Black cap and nape, deeply forked tail, white underparts, pale gray upperparts, orange-red bill, legs, and feet. | ||
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Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Generally the most common of the black-capped, gray-backed, white bodied terns found in the state. Very similar to the Common Tern, the Forster's Tern is the more common breeder in the state, generally being found around freshwater marshes, and often nesting on the top of muskrat houses.
Habitat: In summer, primarily large freshwater marshes on the interior of the country, or salt marshes along the coasts. In winter, many aquatic habitats along the coasts.
Diet: Primarily fish, but will also eat insects, small crustaceans and mollusks, frogs, and tadpoles.
Nesting: June and July
Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey map
Song: Forster's Tern Song
Migrations: Summers in scattered locations throughout the U.S. and southern Canada. Winters along U.S. coastlines and points south, but is generally not as much of a long-distance migrant as its close relatives.
Similar Species: Common Tern, Arctic Tern
Status: Has declined in portions of its range, probably due to habitat loss.
Further Information: 1) Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Forster's Tern
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Forster's Tern"
3) E-nature.com -- Forster's Tern
Photo Information: April 28th, 2002 -- Long Lake near Madison -- Terry L. Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Forster's Tern photos.
| Additional Forster's Tern Photos | ||
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| Forster's Tern 1 | Forster's Tern 2 (In flight) | Forster's Tern 3 (In flight) |
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| Forster's Tern 4 (In flight) | Forster's Tern 5 (In flight) | Forster's Tern 6 (In flight) |
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/19/08
