Forster´s Tern

Sterna forsteriNuttall, 1834

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Presence in the Strait: Vagrant
In Spanish: Charrán de Forster

Photograph: Kathy Richardson, CC BY, vía iNaturalist

Length: 33–36 cm
Wingspan: 86–89 cm
Weight: 160 g

Presence in the Strait

Accidental. One bird on 27.10.87 in the Bay of Algeciras.

Identification

Very similar to a Common Tern but with much paler plumage. In flight, plain pale grey upperwings and dark under-wing tips. In winter, it displays a black bill, and white crown as in juveniles. Breeds in North America. Sternidae ad.W juv. Charrán Bengalí ad.W Charrán Real juv. ad.W Charrancito Común ad.E ad.W Charrán de Forster

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.

Calendar in the Strait

No observations with a compatible licence in the area, or taxon without a match in GBIF.

Same genus in the Strait

Lesser Crested Tern35–37 cm · Migrant · overlapping size
Common Tern31–35 cm · Migrant · overlapping size
Sandwich Tern36–41 cm · Seasonal · overlapping size
Arctic Tern33–35 cm · Vagrant · overlapping size
Roseate Tern33–38 cm · Vagrant · overlapping size

Species of the same genus that also occur here, ordered by how close they are in size. Being relatives does not mean they are confused in the field, but that is where the doubts start: compare size and season.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
GBIF taxon key: 5229247

Sources

Distribution and calendar: GBIF, live query
Photograph: Kathy Richardson, CC BY, vía iNaturalist
Taxonomy: GBIF backbone, pending WoRMS for marine taxa
Editorial text: written by Bioestrecho
Last revised: 8 September 2026

Forster´s Tern

Presence in the Strait

Identification

Gallery