Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri Scientific name definitions

Forster's Tern is the only tern restricted almost entirely to North America throughout the year. Its highest breeding numbers are found around south-central Manitoba, northern California—southern Oregon, and the Gulf Coast. Its centers of abundance in early winter match those of its coastal breeding areas, particularly around the Virginia–North Carolina border, Galveston Bay (Texas), and near Jacksonville, Florida. Similar in appearance and ecology to several other terns, it is primarily a marsh bird, although it is also found along Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts.

A “marsh tern,” this species breeds primarily in fresh, brackish, and saltwater marshes, including marshy borders of lakes, islands, or streams. It is found more often in open, deeper portions of marshes, generally in wetlands with considerable open water and large stands of island-like vegetation and/or large mats of floating vegetation. Along the Atlantic Coast, Forster's Tern breeds in marshy portions of beach and estuarine areas. The suitability of nesting habitat is often ephemeral, varying at a given site from year to year.

Major studies on Forster's Tern have focused on its breeding ecology in Manitoba (McNicholl McNicholl 1971 McNicholl, M. K. (1971). The breeding biology and ecology of Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) at Delta, Manitoba. Master's Thesis, Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg. Close , McNicholl 1980c McNicholl, M. K. (1980c). Territories of Forster's Terns. Proc. Colon. Waterbirds Group 3:196-203. Close , McNicholl 1982 McNicholl, M. K. (1982). Factors affecting reproductive success of Forster's Tern at Delta Marsh, Manitoba. Colonial Waterbirds 5:32-38. Close , McNicholl 1983 McNicholl, M. K. (1983). Hatching of Forster's Terns. Condor 85:50-52. Close ), feeding ecology in Minnesota (Fraser Fraser 1994a Fraser, G. S. (1994a). Feeding and nesting behaviors of the Forster's Tern on Lake Osakis, Minnesota. Master's Thesis, North Dakota State Univ., Fargo. Close , Fraser 1997 Fraser, G. S. (1997). Feeding ecology of Forster's Terns on Lake Osakis, Minnesota. Colonial Waterbirds 20:87-94. Close ) and at San Francisco Bay, CA (Salt and Willard 1971 Salt, G. W. and D. E. Willard. (1971). The hunting behavior and success of Forster's Tern. Ecology 52:989-998. Close ), and vocalizations and behavior in Washington (Hall Hall 1988a Hall, J. A. (1988a). Early chick mobility and brood movements in the Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri). Journal of Field Ornithology 59:247-251. Close , Hall 1989 Hall, J. A. (1989). Aspects of Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) reproduction on cobblestone islands in southcentral Washington. Northwest Science 63:90-95. Close , Hall 1998c Hall, J. A. (1998c). Vocal repertoire of Forster's Tern. Colonial Waterbirds 21:388-405. Close ).