Forster's Tern

Sterna forsteri

no photo — written note
photo: Wikimedia Commons
BirdsSensitive species

A marsh tern of the Great Lakes region, hovering and dipping over shallow water.

Field facts
HabitatMarsh, reservoirs, lakeshore
RangeNorthern Indiana mainly
When to lookApril to October
StatusState endangered as a breeder (Indiana DNR / IUCN Red List)
Look-alikesCommon tern — darker wingtips

Field note: In winter it swaps the black cap for a bold black ear patch.

Lesson
Watching responsibly

Avoid nesting marsh islands from May to July.

This species is treated as sensitive: locations are generalised to county level and never routed to directly.

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