Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri (Nuttall, 1834) FO FORTE 6180
Family: Charadriiformes > Laridae

Similar to Common Tern, but with a pale orange bill, Forster's Tern is a rare visitor from North America, with most records coming from around the Irish Sea during the winter months.

In some areas, the floating nests of Forster's Terns face an unusual hazard – spawning carp can work up such a frenzy that they sometimes dislodge eggs from the terns' nests.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Forster's Tern

  • Breeding
  • Winter
1.2k records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
1.2k records

BTO RECORDS

1.2k records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
1.2k records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

  • Forster's Tern breeding distribution 2008-11
    Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
    More from the Atlas Mapstore.
  • Forster's Tern winter distribution 2008-11
    Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
    More from the Atlas Mapstore.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

SEASONALITY

Forster's Tern is a rare vagrant, recorded sporadically but most often in winter, and often involving returning individuals.

Weekly occurence of Forster's Tern from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Forster's Tern, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Môr-wennol Forster
Catalan: xatrac de Forster
Czech: rybák Forsteruv
Danish: Prærie-terne
Dutch: Forsters Stern
Estonian: sootiir
Finnish: hopeatiira
French: Sterne de Forster
German: Forsterseeschwalbe
Hungarian: tavi csér
Icelandic: Tálþerna
Irish: Geabhróg Forster
Italian: Sterna di Forster
Latvian: Forstera zirinš
Lithuanian: Forsterio žuvedra
Norwegian: Prærieterne
Polish: rybitwa czarnoucha
Portuguese: gaivina-de-forster
Slovak: rybár mociarny
Slovenian: ameriška recna cigra
Spanish: Charrán de Forster
Swedish: kärrtärna

Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com

Read more studies about Forster's Tern on Conservation Evidence >

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