Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

Taxobox
name = Forster's Tern
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1



image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Charadriiformes
familia = Sternidae
genus = "Sterna"
species = "S. forsteri"
binomial = "Sterna forsteri"
binomial_authority = Nuttall, 1834

The Forster's Tern, "Sterna forsteri", is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. It breeds inland in North America and winters south to the Caribbean and northern South America.

This species is rare but annual in western Europe, and has wintered in Ireland and Great Britain on a number of occasions. No European tern winters so far north.

This species breeds in colonies in marshes. It nests in a ground scrape and lays three or more eggs. Like all white terns, it is fiercely defensive of its nest and young.

The Forster's Tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, but will also hawk for insects in its breeding marshes. It usually feeds from saline environments in winter, like most "Sterna" terns. It usually dives directly, and not from the "stepped-hover" favoured by the Arctic Tern. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.

This is a small tern, 33-36cm long with a 64-70cm wingspan. It is most similar to the Common Tern. It has pale grey upperparts and white underparts. Its legs are red and its bill is red, tipped with black. In winter, the forehead becomes white and a characteristic black eyemask remains. Juvenile Forster's Terns are similar to the winter adult. The call is a harsh noise like a Black-headed Gull.

This species is unlikely to be confused with the Common Tern in winter because of the black eyemask, but is much more similar in breeding plumage. Forster's has a grey centre to its white tail, and the upperwings are pure white, without the darker primary wedge of Common.

This bird is named after the naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "National Geographic" "Field Guide to the Birds of North America" ISBN 0-7922-6877-6
* "Seabirds" by Harrison, ISBN 0709912072
* "Terns of Europe and North America" by Olsen and Larsson, ISBN 0-7136-4056-1

External links

* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Forsters_Tern.html Forster's Tern Species Account] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i0690id.html Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/forsters_tern_info.htm Forster's Tern Information and Photos] - South Dakota Birds and Birding
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/birdguide/pool/tags/Sterna%20forsteri Field Guide Page on Flickr]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Forster`s tern — Forsterio žuvėdra statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Sterna forsteri angl. Forster s tern vok. Forsterseeschwalbe, f rus. крачка Форстера, f pranc. sterne de Forster, f ryšiai: platesnis terminas – tikrosios žuvėdros …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • forster's tern — noun Usage: usually capitalized F Etymology: after Johann R. Forster : a black capped tern (Sterna forsteri) that is related to the common tern, breeds chiefly in marshes and on the interior lakes of No. America, and migrates southward in winter …   Useful english dictionary

  • Forster — may refer to:* Forster, New South Wales, a town in Australia * Forster (surname), people with the surname Forster ee also* Forster s Tern, seabird of the tern family Sternidae * Forster Square, Bradford, central square in Bradford, UK * Forster… …   Wikipedia

  • Tern — Taxobox name = Terns image width = 250px image caption =Greater Crested Tern regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Charadriiformes subordo = Lari familia = Sternidae familia authority = Bonaparte, 1838 subdivision ranks =… …   Wikipedia

  • Gull-billed Tern — Taxobox name = Gull billed Tern status = LC| status= LC | status system = IUCN3.1 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Charadriiformes familia = Sternidae genus = Gelochelidon genus authority = C. L. Brehm, 1830 species = G.… …   Wikipedia

  • sterne de Forster — Forsterio žuvėdra statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Sterna forsteri angl. Forster s tern vok. Forsterseeschwalbe, f rus. крачка Форстера, f pranc. sterne de Forster, f ryšiai: platesnis terminas – tikrosios žuvėdros …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • For|ster's tern — «FRS tuhrz», a white tern with a grayish mantle, deeply forked tail, and silvery wing tips, which nests in marshes of western North America and along the coast of the southeastern United States. ╂[< Johann R. Forster, 1729 1798, a German… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Aves de Puerto Rico — Anexo:Aves de Puerto Rico Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Archivo:PuertoRicanSpindalis.jpg La Reina Mora (Spindalis portoricensis) es una de las aves nacionales de Puerto Rico, el carpintero puertorriqueño (Melanerpes portoricensis) es la otra.… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Aves de Cuba — Anexo:Aves de Cuba Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Lista de aves de Cuba (por familias) Esta es una lista organizada por familias de especies de aves registradas en el archipiélago de Cuba, el cual consiste de la Isla de Cuba, la Isla de la… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Anexo:Aves de Cuba — Se ha sugerido que este artículo o sección sea fusionado con Aves en Cuba (discusión). Una vez que hayas realizado la fusión de artículos, pide la fusión de historiales aquí. Lista de aves de Cuba (por familias) Esta es una lista organizada por… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”