Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) is in the Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers family (Laridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 29,340 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Forster's Tern: observations by month (U.S.)
About Forster's Tern
The Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri) is a tern in the family Laridae. The genus name Sterna is derived from Old English "stearn", "tern", and forsteri commemorates the naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Forster's Tern by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 10,159 | April | Apr–Sep |
| Texas | 4,748 | April | Sep–May |
| Florida | 2,927 | January | Dec–Mar |
| New Jersey | 1,487 | May | Apr–Oct |
| New York | 875 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Maryland | 848 | August | Jul–Oct |
| South Carolina | 818 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Virginia | 814 | May | Mar–Jan |
| Delaware | 688 | August | Apr–Sep |
| North Carolina | 638 | April | Jul–May |
| Louisiana | 572 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Utah | 478 | May | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 392 | October | Aug–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 358 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Georgia | 287 | January | Sep–Apr |
| Illinois | 241 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 213 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Ohio | 212 | May | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 186 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 180 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 178 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Washington | 173 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 171 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 157 | May | Apr–May |
| Kansas | 150 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 132 | May | Apr–Jun |
| South Dakota | 120 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 117 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 109 | May | May–Sep |
| Montana | 109 | May | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | 105 | May | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 89 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 84 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 81 | May | May–Jul |
| Arkansas | 70 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Missouri | 58 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 49 | May | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 49 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Connecticut | 42 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Nevada | 32 | June | May–Jul |
| Wyoming | 31 | June | May–Aug |
| Iowa | 29 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 24 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 22 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maine | 20 | August | Aug–Sep |
| West Virginia | 12 | April | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Western Gull
American Herring Gull
Royal Tern
California Gull
Caspian Tern
Heermann's Gull
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Forster's Tern?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Forster's Tern most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.