ExploreBirds

Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri

Forster's Tern is a beautiful bird that loves to dive into the water to catch fish. With its white body and black cap, it looks very elegant while flying over lakes and rivers.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Forster's Tern has a sleek white body, pale grey wings, and a deeply forked tail. During breeding, it sports a striking black cap and a bright orange bill tipped with black, making it stand out from other terns.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyLaridaeGenusSterna
Forster's Tern
feathered trait badgewebbed_feet trait badgesocial trait badgeaerial trait badge
Forster's Tern

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

14

Interesting facts

Baby Forster's Terns are covered in fluffy camouflage down!

Its scientific name honors a famous explorer, Johann Forster!

Males catch fish to give to females as a special courtship gift!

They sometimes build nests on floating mats of plants!

Special abilities

Ability

Fishing Ace

Forster's Tern can plunge-dive headfirst into water because of its keen eyesight that helps them spot fish from above.

Ability

Community Nester

Forster's Tern has adapted to nesting in noisy colonies that helps them raise chicks safely from predators.

Ability

Aerial Hunter

Forster's Tern can hover gracefully over the water, allowing them to precisely target small fish before diving.

Measurements & details

Length
33-36 cm
Wingspan
70-79 cm
Weight
0.13-0.19 kg
Lifespan
10-15 years
Top Speed
48 km/h
Clutch Size
2-4
Incubation
23-26 days
Migration Distance
3000 km

Diet & Feeding

These agile birds mostly eat small fish they catch by diving, sometimes enjoying shrimp and insects!

Primary Foods

  • Minnows
  • Killifish
  • Shrimp
  • Insects

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and do not disturb their nests.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Forster's Tern?

The easiest way to identify Forster's Tern is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Forster's Tern?

33-36 cm

What is Forster's Tern's wingspan?

70-79 cm

How much does Forster's Tern weigh?

0.13-0.19 kg

How long does Forster's Tern live?

10-15 years

How fast can Forster's Tern move?

48 km/h

What does Forster's Tern eat?

These agile birds mostly eat small fish they catch by diving, sometimes enjoying shrimp and insects!

Where is Forster's Tern usually found?

Coastal areas

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Where to spot

More Birds