TROPIC and NEAR-TROPIC BIRD COLLECTION

A Hunting Forster's Tern Forster's Tern- Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern- Sterna forsteri, Order Charadriiformes, Family Laridae, Subfamily Sterninae. These terns were making the rounds at Acton Lake on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. Two of the finest bird enthusiasts I know had difficulty identifying the bird from the admitedly poor photographs. From Dave Russel "This week we have had Common, Forster's, Caspian, and Black Terns at Acton. This being said--because of some lesser characters that are not 100 % reliable I think it is Forster's Tern-- white not gray breast (light dependent), amount white between bill and black cap, orange not orange -red bill (also light dependent)." Casey Tucker thought it could go either way, but, at this point was leaning towards a Common Tern. (Photo: Aug 22, 2004, Canon EOS 1D Mark II digital camera with EF 400mm f/5.6 USM) "One of several medium-sized terns that appear similar in appearance, the Forster's Tern breeds primarily in marshes and winters along the coasts. The comma-shaped black ear patch in winter plumage is distinctive, but some other plumages are very confusing. Forster's Tern is the only tern restricted almost entirely to North America throughout the year." For More Species Info: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Forsters_Tern_dtl.html

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Photos Copyright R. Hays Cummins. Authorization required. For permission, contact hays@environment-education-press.org

Sources of species identification and other amazing info include (1) Cornell Lab of Ornithology--a fantastic site; (2)Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Peterson Field Guide Series, Fifth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company; (3) The National Audubon Society's Sibley Guide to Birds and (4) Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Third Edition, National Geographic, Washington, D.C.