Forster's Tern Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesForster's Tern
Breeding adult
Medium-sized tern with pointed wings and a long, forked tail. Breeding adults have a black cap and a black-tipped orange bill. Note white underparts and pale primaries.
© Jonathan Irons / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 06, 2019© Andrew Simon / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, April 30, 2020
Nonbreeding adult
Short-legged tern with a thin black bill. Spends the winter in marshes, coastal beaches, lakes, and rivers.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 13, 2014Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adults have a black eyepatch, an unmarked nape, and a slender black bill.
© Jonathan Irons / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, October 07, 2018Immature
Immature birds are pale gray above and do not have shoulder markings. They have a black eyepatch, pale gray primaries, and a black bill.
© Andrew Dreelin / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, September 14, 2017Juvenile
Juveniles are mottled rusty brown, white, and gray with a black eye patch.
© Denny Swaby / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, October 03, 2020Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adults have a black mask and entirely white underparts. The wings are silvery from below with black tips on the primaries.
© Barry Blust / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, November 01, 2017Breeding adult
Short-legged tern with a long, forked tail that extends beyond the wings when resting. Breeding adults have a full black cap and a slender, black-tipped orange bill.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 15, 2016Nonbreeding adult
In flight, note gray tail and pale gray primaries with black tips on nonbreeding adults.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 15, 2017Habitat
Breeds in marshes with open water and large stands of islandlike vegetation. Spends the winters in marshes, coastal beaches, lakes, and rivers.
© R Painter / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, June 20, 2015Similar SpeciesRoseate Tern
Breeding adult
Roseate Terns are slimmer than Forster's Terns. Breeding Roseate Terns also have a longer tail than Forster's Terns.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 14, 2016Similar SpeciesRoseate Tern
Breeding adult
Roseate Terns lack the dark trailing edge on the wing that is visible in flight on Forster's Terns. Roseate Terns also have a whiter tail than Forster's.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 30, 2010Similar SpeciesRoseate Tern
Juvenile
Juvenile Roseate Terns tend to have a more black or blackish markings on their head than juvenile Forster's Terns.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 14, 2016Similar SpeciesArctic Tern
Breeding adult
Arctic Terns have shorter legs and a shorter bill than Forster's Terns.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 20, 2012Similar SpeciesArctic Tern
Nonbreeding
Nonbreeding Arctic Terns have a black patch on the back of their heads, whereas, nonbreeding Forster's Terns only have black surrounding their eye.
© Daniel Murphy / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 20, 2016Similar SpeciesCommon Tern
Breeding adult
Common Terns have a thinner bill than Forster's Terns. In flight, note that Common Terns have more black in their wings that Forster's Terns lack.
© Mikaela Kropp / Macaulay LibraryDelaware, August 10, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult Common Terns have a black patch on the back of their head, unlike nonbreeding Forster's Terns that have a black mask. They also have more black in the wings than Forster's Terns.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, September 09, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
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