Forster's terns
Images copyright by Mark A. Chappell

Forster's terns are the common breeding tern in western North America.  They are about the same size and shape as Arctic and Common terns, but are identified by their red-orange bills with black tips.   Most of these birds were photographed early in the breeding season; in winter they lose the red color in the bill and develop a white crown (bottom images).   The pictures were taken at Bolsa Chica wetlands in coastal Orange County, California.  The bird at upper left is carrying a freshly-caught fish, which is a common courtship behavior in terns. Click here for more flight pictures of elegant terns, royal terns, least terns, and Caspian terns.

digital captures, Canon 10D or 1D Mk II, 500 mm f4 IS + 1.4X or 2X converter, fill-in flash on the sitting birds; the flying bird with a fish was shot with a 100-400 IS zoom at about 400 mm, and the two flying terns immediately below and the pair exchanging a fish were shot with a 70-200/4 IS plus 1.4X converter (2004, 2006, 2007)