Terns (Sternidae)
White Tern (Gygis alba) - HBW 3, p. 666
French: Gygis blanche
German: Feenseeschwalbe
Spanish: Charrán Blanco
Other common names: Fairy Tern(!); Common White Tern (alba); Little White Tern (microrhyncha)
Taxonomy: Sterna alba Sparrman, 1786, Ascension Island.
Placed in a monotypic genus, owing to unique plumage and bill. Race microrhyncha sometimes separated as distinct species, but apparently interbreeds with G. alba in Kiribati. Internal taxonomy extremely confusing, with correct subspecific allocations and limits frequently unclear and disputed; some authors have preferred to recognize several additional races, including royana of Norfolk I and Kermadec Is, pacifica of Caroline Is, Melanesia and other islands of S Pacific, and rothschildi of Hawaii, all of which herein included in nominate race, but all are so.. View all taxonomy...
Placed in a monotypic genus, owing to unique plumage and bill. Race microrhyncha sometimes separated as distinct species, but apparently interbreeds with G. alba in Kiribati. Internal taxonomy extremely confusing, with correct subspecific allocations and limits frequently unclear and disputed; some authors have preferred to recognize several additional races, including royana of Norfolk I and Kermadec Is, pacifica of Caroline Is, Melanesia and other islands of S Pacific, and rothschildi of Hawaii, all of which herein included in nominate race, but all are sometimes referred instead to race candida. Birds of Seychelles and Mascarenes described as monte, but not separable from candida. Four subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- alba (Sparrman, 1786) - Caroline Is through Melanesia to Norfolk I and Kermadec Is; Hawaii; W Mexico (Clipperton), Costa Rica (Cocos I) and probably Colombia (Malpelo); S Atlantic islands (Fernando de Noronha, Trinidade, Ascension, St Helena).
- candida (Gmelin, 1789) - Seychelles and Mascarenes through Indian Ocean to SC Pacific, including Marquesas Is (Hatutu).
- microrhyncha Saunders, 1876 - Marquesas Is (Eiao to Fatu Hiva) and apparently also Phoenix and Line Is.
- leucopes Holyoak & Thibault, 1976 - Henderson I and Pitcairn I (SE Pacific).
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A juvenile perching on a sign Locality Bird Island, Seychelles (ssp candida)
Josep del Hoyo 19 August 2000 11 years ago 19 sec 4.8 -
A chick on a branch Locality Bird Island, Seychelles (ssp candida)
Peter Nash 5 December 2005 7 years ago 9 sec 4.7 -
A bird perched on a branch Locality Bird Island, Seychelles (ssp candida)
Josep del Hoyo 19 August 2000 7 years ago 29 sec 4.7 -
An adult with a young chick Locality Cousin Island, Seychelles (ssp candida)
Steven Edwards 13 April 2004 8 years ago 22 sec 4.5 -
A juvenile perching on a sign Locality Bird Island, Seychelles (ssp candida)
Josep del Hoyo 19 August 2000 10 years ago 29 sec 4.4 -
A close-up of an adult perched on a branch Locality Bird Island, Seychelles (ssp candida)
Josep del Hoyo 19 August 2000 7 years ago 25 sec 4.3
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Roosting site at Fort Derussy Beach Park.
Locality Fort Derussy Beach Park, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands
Alexander Viduetsky 20 October 2011 1 year ago 4.7 -
A bird stretching its wings.
Locality Oahu, Hawaiian Islands (ssp alba )
Evan Buck 21 June 2012 7 weeks ago 4 -
Looking for a place to land
Locality Te Fakanava, Nukunonu Atoll, Tokelau (ssp alba)
Hickson Fergusson 25 August 2012 37 weeks ago 4 -
Adult and mature chick in nesting Kermadec Pohutukawa
Locality Kermadec Islands, New Zealand (ssp alba)
Edward Jenkins 10 April 2012 42 weeks ago 4 -
Bird in flight
Locality Motuhaga, Nukunonu Atoll, Tokelau
Hickson Fergusson 24 August 2012 37 weeks ago 3.6 -
Preening bird in nesting tree.
Locality Kermadec Islands, New Zealand (ssp alba)
Edward Jenkins 10 April 2012 42 weeks ago 3.6
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A bird calling while chasing another individual in a tree. Locality Bird Island, Seychelles
(ssp candida)
Josep del Hoyo 19 August 2000 16 weeks ago 4
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