ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

Photo by Richard Day/Daybreak Imagery

Forster's terns have not been found nesting in Ohio, but they breed in southeastern Michigan on Lake Erie and may be found nesting in the western Lake Erie marshes someday. They are common migrants, often forming large flocks.

Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri

At-a-Glance

• Mating: Monogamous; birds form a pair and work together to rear the young.

• Peak Breeding Activity: April-May

• Incubation: 20-28 days

• Clutch Size: 2-3 eggs <

• Typical Foods: small fish, arthropods, and occasionally frogs

Description
Non-breeding birds are easily told from common terns by their black "ear patches." Breeders are similar to the common tern, but the wing tips are white and the bill is more orange with a black tip.

Habitat and Habits
Forster's terns can be seen in large water bodies; lakes, big rivers, and Lake Erie. Their calls are similar to common terns, but lower pitched and easily separated if the two are together. The rasping jeer call suggests the sound made by common nighthawks in their display dives.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Terns breed in colonies. Nests are built on marshy shorelines or mats of floating vegetation. Both parents brood and feed the young.