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.
Double-crested Cormorant and Forster’s Terns
Title: Double-crested Cormorant and Forster’s Terns
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 4/22/2021
Immature Forster’s Tern after dropping its tadpole prey
Title: Immature Forster’s Tern after dropping its tadpole prey
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/19/2019
Immature Forster’s Tern with a small fish
Title: Immature Forster’s Tern with a small fish
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/19/2019
Young Forster’s Tern searching for prey
Title: Young Forster’s Tern searching for prey
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/19/2019
Immature Forster’s Tern flying over a pond
Title: Immature Forster’s Tern flying over a pond
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/19/2019
Immature Forster’s Tern hunting for prey
Title: Immature Forster’s Tern hunting for prey
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 9/19/2019
Forster’s Tern hovering over the marsh at Bear River MBR
Title: Forster’s Tern hovering over the marsh at Bear River MBR
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/2/2019
Forster’s Tern feeding its young who is perched on a dead coot
Title: Forster’s Tern feeding its young who is perched on a dead coot
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 10/3/2017
Juvenile Forster’s Tern in flight
Title: Juvenile Forster’s Tern in flight
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/27/2017
Forster’s Tern lifting off from water with prey
Title: Forster’s Tern lifting off from water with prey
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/24/2017
Forster’s Tern after successful dive for prey
Title: Forster’s Tern after successful dive for prey
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/24/2017
Nonbreeding adult Forster’s Tern in flight with prey
Title: Nonbreeding adult Forster’s Tern in flight with prey
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 8/24/2017
Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage resting on a log
Title: Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage resting on a log
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/23/2017
Forster’s Tern on a log
Title: Forster’s Tern on a log
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/23/2017
Hovering, hunting Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage
Title: Hovering, hunting Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage
Location: Bear River Migratory Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/29/2015
Forster’s Tern hovering over prey
Title: Forster’s Tern hovering over prey
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/29/2015
Hovering Forster’s Tern
Title: Hovering Forster’s Tern
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 8/3/2014
Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage in flight over Bear River NWR
Title: Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage in flight over Bear River NWR
Location: Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/23/2013
Forster’s Tern in a Canada Goose nest
Title: A Forster’s Tern in a Canada Goose nest
Location: Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Date: 6/8/2012
Forster’s Tern in a dive over a Bear River wetland
Title: Forster’s Tern in a dive over a Bear River wetland
Location: Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 5/9/2012