From Opus

This article has been marked for merging It has been discussed that this article be merged with White Tern.

Gygis alba microrhyncha

Photo by noisi.

[edit] Identification

This bird is 25 cm long and has completely white plumage except for a black ring of feathers around the eye, which gives the bird a large-eyed appearance.

The feet are blackish, in contrast to the larger Common White Tern. The bill is much narrower and completely black, not blue on the base. Another difference are the quills of its wing feathers: they are white, not black as in the larger species.

[edit] Distribution

Line Islands, Phoenix Islands / Kiribati; Eiao to Fatu Hiva / Marquesas; Paracel Islands / South China Sea

Known on the basis of subfossil bones from Mangaia (Cook Islands) and the Mariana Islands.

[edit] Taxonomy

It was formerly treated as subspecies of the larger Common White Tern but has been shown to be a full species. Appears to be monotypic, but further investigations should be undertaken.

[edit] Habitat

This is a seabird which breeds on small islands. The egg is laid directly on a branch without any nest.

[edit] Behaviour

The behaviour is almost identical to the larger Common White Tern.

In some places (for example, Kiribati) it occurs together with the Common White Tern and the two species are known to interbreed occasionally.

[edit] External Links