|
Forums36
Topics40,961
Posts557,954
Members18,500
| |
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
|
6 members (ewest, Drago, Shorthose, TSan06, phinfan, DrLuke),
1,446
guests, and
302
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35
Administrator Lunker
|
OP
Administrator Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35 |
These two sat on the frame of my island project off and on for two days and then they were gone. I have never seen them here before. They resemble a Forster's Tern, but don't exactly match the photos I have found googling. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,025 Likes: 1
Lunker
|
|
Lunker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,025 Likes: 1 |
Aren't those big water birds? Would they have come from larger fresh water lakes, or one of the big lakes? Or, are they normally salt water birds? I found it. Summer breeding grounds in your area.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
|
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
Looks like a Forster's Tern to me... The head color changes with the season, which can make identification difficult.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35
Administrator Lunker
|
|
OP
Administrator Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35 |
Where is Bird Brain Brettski when we need him? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
How about a least tern? My bird book is at home at the moment.
Is the bill really black, or is it just dark?
Last edited by Shorty; 05/04/09 09:49 AM. Reason: bill color is thowing me off
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35
Administrator Lunker
|
|
OP
Administrator Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35 |
I zoomed in closer. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
Least terns have a yellow bill with a black tip, non-breeding least terns have an all black bill according to the Cornell bird website. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Least_Tern/idI'll check my bird book when I get home.
Last edited by Shorty; 05/04/09 10:07 AM. Reason: added link
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2
Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
|
|
Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
|
|
Ambassador
Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5 |
Futher proof that taunting Brettski is not such a good idea.
JHAP
~~~~~~~~~~
"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."
...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35
Administrator Lunker
|
|
OP
Administrator Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35 |
I was attempting to show respect for his bird knowledge. Now I am on his sticky stuff list. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
Well, I looked at my bird book last night and have it narrowed down to a common tern, a least tern, or a forester's tern. Based on the bill color it is likely a returning juvenile.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
|
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
The habitat is the key, that's what makes me say Forster's Tern...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
My bird book showed all three having a summer breeding range that would include parts of MN. The juvenile Forester's looked much different than Dwights pictures, not near as much black covering the head all the way to the front.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35
Administrator Lunker
|
|
OP
Administrator Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35 |
The "experts" on the whatbird.com forum concur that it is a Forester's Tern.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
Thanks Dwight! Did they say what they thought were the determining factors, light patches on the wings/shoulders?
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57 |
|
