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Forster's Terns


Forster's Terns
Photo Information
Copyright: Binh Nguyen (Howler-Cat) Silver Note Writer [C: 3 W: 0 N: 56] (250)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 30 D, Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/2500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-29 12:43
Viewed: 585
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri, is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. It breeds inland in North America and winters south to the Caribbean and northern South America.

This species is rare but annual in western Europe, and has wintered in Ireland and Great Britain on a number of occasions. No European tern winters so far north.

This species breeds in colonies in marshes. It nests in a ground scrape and lays three or more eggs. Like all white terns, it is fiercely defensive of its nest and young.

The Forster's Tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, but will also hawk for insects in its breeding marshes. It usually feeds from saline environments in winter, like most Sterna terns. It usually dives directly, and not from the "stepped-hover" favoured by the Arctic Tern. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.

This is a small tern, 33-36cm long with a 64-70cm wingspan. It is most similar to the Common Tern. It has pale grey upperparts and white underparts. Its legs are red and its bill is red, tipped with black. In winter, the forehead becomes white and a characteristic black eyemask remains. Juvenile Forster's Terns are similar to the winter adult. The call is a harsh noise like a Black-headed Gull.

This species is unlikely to be confused with the Common Tern in winter because of the black eyemask, but is much more similar in breeding plumage. Forster's has a grey centre to its white tail, and the upperwings are pure white, without the darker primary wedge of Common.

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tuslaw, keanhoon, tkp1165 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • eliz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 167 W: 22 N: 269] (1535)
  • [2008-06-29 13:10]

great interaction

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 20 N: 1392] (4861)
  • [2008-06-29 16:36]

Terrific inflight capture Binh,
Beautiful birds with such rich colours in their plumages. Love the sharpness and details, and that bright blue sky just helps set this image off.
Great job!!
Ron

Great take. Sharp and clear of the fighting terns. I like the blue sky as BG.
TFS

Kean

Hi Binh
This is a great in-flight action shot witch is not EZ to capture. I really like it. Job well done!!
TFS
Tom

  • Great 
  • GaryT Gold Star Critiquer [C: 102 W: 9 N: 236] (1354)
  • [2008-09-12 12:40]

This is a great shot! Can't believe it didn't get more points. Gary

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