Forster's Tern

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Sterna forsteri

Very rare vagrants from North America with 6 records for Britain & 40 in Ireland.

Breeds in North America & Canada. 

Breeding Adults have an intense black cap extending down the neck appears.

The wings and the back are pale grey while the underside is bright white.

It has a black-tipped orange bill and bright orange legs.

Winter birds have white crowns and a black comma-shaped patch covers the eye and the ear-covert.

The wings are grey with the primaries being dark silvery grey, while the underside is white.

The bill is black and the legs are a dull brownish red.

Juveniles are similar to non-breeding Adults but often have darker primaries, and a scaly gingery-brown pattern on the back and wing coverts.

The call is a kerr.