Friends of Salter Grove logo
Menu

Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri
Laridae

Nonbreeding plumage different from ...
... breeding plumage
Black eyepatch on white head identifies rare visitor
No black in wings, all gray above
Tiny when compared with Herring and Ring-billed Gulls
Sought after as hat ornament in 19th century
Tail forms a deep V when spread
Scanning for fish ...
... got one!
Male and female have identical breeding plumage
Both parents incubate clutch of 1 to 4 eggs
Newly hatched chicks merge into background
Small chick gets small fish
Larger fledgling gets larger fish; distinct eyepatch in juvenile
Nonbreeding adult and juvenile stopping at Salter Grove
Nests in large colonies; family groups migrate together

Forster's Tern is a rare visitor to Salter Grove during fall migration.  By the time it reaches the park, it will have molted into its nonbreeding plumage which includes a distinctive black eyepatch and black beak.  Look for a relatively small seabird flying gracefully over North and South Coves scanning for fish.  Good vantage points include the causeway and breakwater.  

It can be distinguished from the similar but slightly smaller Common Tern by the following.  Whereas the Common Tern has a white forehead and black on the back of its head, Forster's Tern has a black eyepatch on a white head.  The Common Tern has a bit of black in its wing, Forster's tern does not.  And finally, the Common Tern also has a forked tail but Forster's tern has a tail that forms a deep V when fully spread because of two very long outer tail feathers.

Forster's Tern has a somewhat disjunct breeding range in North America.  Breeding colonies have been reported in marshy and estuarine habitats along the Gulf coast, the northern region of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, around lakes in the northern prairies of Canada and the United States, as well as in the Great Lakes region.

Individuals that breed along the Gulf Coast stay put throughout the year.  Individuals that breed further north winter in the marshes and estuaries along the southern coasts of the United States and Mexico and may reach northern Central America.  Forster's Tern winters further north than any other North American Tern.

Along with several other tern species, Forster's Terns were shot and stuffed whole to decorate hats during the 19th century.   Fortunately, not all women succumbed to this millinery fad and many conservation minded individuals rallied support for legislation to stop this practice.  The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 made it unlawful to collect any migratory bird for any purpose.