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Almost entirely restricted to North America, Forster’s Terns spend their entire
lives from the central Canadian Prairie Provinces south to Panama. A marsh specialist,
Forster’s Terns build nests on muskrat houses, vegetation mats and low islands. They
are rarely found on sandy beaches or rocky islands. They nest colonially, often in
association with other waterbird species. They are most likely confused with Common Terns.
Look for the Forster’s Terns’ longer, orange-red legs and longer, thicker,
orange-yellow bill with a black-tip in the breeding season or all-black bill in the
winter. At rest, breeding adults have outer tail feathers that project well beyond their
wing tips. Their pale gray forked tails show white outer edges and their wings are frosty
white with lighter wingtips year-round. Immatures and nonbreeding adults show a dark eye
mask and a pale nape.
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