General Description: Forster's Terns (Sterna forsteri) are small, light colored terns with forked tails and an orange bill with a black tip. The forked tail has white outer edges.

As with most other terns, this species has differing winter and summer plumage. In breeding plumage, Forster's Terns have a black cap that extends from the top of the bill to the back of the head. During winter, they lose most of the black cap and have only a large black ear patch.

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Laridae, Sterninae.

Favored Habitat: Inland marshes in the northern US and Canada during summer; coastal US and Mexico during winter.

Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, look for Forster's Terns during migration around marshes and bodies of water such as Lake Mead, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, and the Pahranagat Valley.

Comments: