Forster’s Tern
Sterna forsteri
Forster's Tern is a rare migrant to Britain, typically seen during the summer months, particularly in the eastern and southern coastal regions. It is a distinctive tern species that can be spotted in wetland areas, estuaries, and coastal beaches.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Forster’s Tern in the field.
The Forster's Tern can be identified by its pale grey back, white forehead, and black eye patch, as well as its distinctive orange bill with a black tip. Its wings and tail are long and pointed, with a notable white edge on the outer primaries.
The Forster's Tern is slightly larger than a Common Tern, with a similar size to a Black-headed Gull.
The male Forster's Tern has a grey back, white underside, and a black cap that extends to the back of the head, with a white forehead patch, and its orange bill turns black in winter.
The female Forster's Tern is similar to the male, with a slightly less pronounced black cap and a more subdued colouration overall.
The Forster's Tern has a distinctive, high-pitched call that sounds like a sharp "kirr" or "kik", often repeated in a series.
Forster's Terns are fish-eating birds that dive from the air to catch their prey, and they can be seen flying low over the water, scanning for fish, and then plunging downwards to catch them.
The Forster's Tern can be confused with the Common Tern, but it can be distinguished by its orange bill with a black tip, and its pale grey back, whereas the Common Tern has a red bill and a darker grey back.
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