# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Forster's Tern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Forster's_Tern.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kevin Cole from Pacific Coast, USA ( en:User:Kevinlcole ), CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Forster's_Tern.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Sterna ## 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 - **Fishing Ace:** Forster's Tern can plunge-dive headfirst into water because of its keen eyesight that helps them spot fish from above. - **Community Nester:** Forster's Tern has adapted to nesting in noisy colonies that helps them raise chicks safely from predators. - **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 - **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 - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Adults can be hunted by this swift predator. - **Eaten by:** [American Herring Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-herring-gull) (*Larus smithsonianus*) — Gulls often prey on eggs and chicks in nesting colonies. - **Eats:** [Mummichog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mummichog) (*Fundulus heteroclitus*) — A common small fish caught in shallow coastal waters. - **Depends on:** [Muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Terns sometimes build nests on abandoned muskrat lodges. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## 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? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-lookout-coast-guard-station) — US · Historic Site - [Eden Landing Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eden-landing-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Pointe Mouillee State Game Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pointe-mouillee-state-game-area) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Presidio Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/presidio-park) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego) — California, US · Aquarium [View all places to see Forster's Tern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/forsters-tern) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Forster's Tern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/forsters-tern)