| Group | Gulls and Terns |
| Code | ABNNM08090 |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Author | Nuttall, 1834 |
| Rank | G5 (definitions) |
| Occurrence | SM (definitions) |
| Scale | N (definitions) |
| Western UP | none |
| Eastern UP | Chippewa, Mackinac |
| Northern LP | Emmet, Bay, Arenac, Alpena |
| Southern LP | St. Clair, Tuscola, Muskegon, Monroe, Macomb, Huron, Wayne |
Mixed Forested/Nonforested or Nonforested Landscapes
(Lake or River)
adjacent to:
Any Emergent Vegetation
view decision rule term definitions
| Habitats | Regen | Sap | Pole | Sm Saw | Lg Saw | Uneven |
| Aspen | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Paper Birch | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Oak | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Assorted Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Northern Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Spruce/Fir | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Hemlock | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Jack Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Red Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| White Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Conifer Plantations | no | no | no | no | no | - |
| Mixed Upland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Northern Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Upland Conifer | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Pine | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Swamp Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bottomland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Tamarack | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Northern White Cedar | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Black Spruce | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Hardwoods | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mixed Lowland Conifer | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Non-Forested | Lake, River, Marsh 1, Marsh 2 (MARSH) | |||||
| Special Features | none |
Habitat: Colonies of Forster's Terns nest on floating vegetation deep in the interior of marshes, frequently in shallow spots in open water away from the shoreline. Water depths at nests range from 0.5-1.3 m.
Recreational boating wakes appear to have had a detrimental effect on the aquatic vegetation that Forster's Tern utilize for nesting habitat.
Habitat: Marshes (fresh or salt), lakes, bays, beaches. During summer is mostly around marshes, either coastal salt marsh or large marshy lakes in the interior. May visit any waters during migration.
Diet: Fish, insects, other small aquatic life. Diet is mostly fish at all seasons, but in summer on marshes may eat many insects. Also eats small crustaceans, frogs.
Nest: Site is in marsh, on top of dense vegetation or mats of floating dead plants, often on top of muskrat house. Sometimes placed on ground near marsh or on abandoned nest of grebe. Where it nests in same marsh as Black Tern, Forester's Terns tend to choose higher and drier nest sites. Nest is platform of reeds and grasses, with deep hollow at center lined with finer material and shells.
Conservation Status: Has declined in some areas with loss or degradation of marsh habitat. Recreational boating on nesting lakes may have impact as well, since wakes from speedboats often flood nests.