(little white tern included) |
(Basic update. Picture of juvenile. References updated) |
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'''Alternative name: Angel Tern, Fairy Tern, Little Fairy-tern''' | '''Alternative name: Angel Tern, Fairy Tern, Little Fairy-tern''' | ||
| − | [[Image:Common_White_Tern.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Common_White_Tern.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo by {{user|JWN+Andrewes|JWN Andrewes}} <br />Isle de Cocos, Rodrigues, May 2002]] |
;[[:Category:Gygis|Gygis]] alba | ;[[:Category:Gygis|Gygis]] alba | ||
'''Includes: Little White Tern''' | '''Includes: Little White Tern''' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 10-12" | + | 10-12" (25-30.5 cm); wings 28" (71 cm)<br /> |
*Snowy white with dark eye | *Snowy white with dark eye | ||
*Black bill with blue base | *Black bill with blue base | ||
| + | *Black eye ring | ||
*Light grey feet (''microrhyncha'' with black feet) | *Light grey feet (''microrhyncha'' with black feet) | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
[[Seychelles]]. [[Polynesia]], [[Micronesia]], [[Fiji]], [[Marquesas]] | [[Seychelles]]. [[Polynesia]], [[Micronesia]], [[Fiji]], [[Marquesas]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | + | ====Subspecies==== |
| + | There are 4 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
*''G. a. alba'': | *''G. a. alba'': | ||
:*Fernando de Noronha, Trinidade, Martin Vas Rocks, [[Ascension Island]] and St. Helena island | :*Fernando de Noronha, Trinidade, Martin Vas Rocks, [[Ascension Island]] and St. Helena island | ||
*''G. a. candida'': | *''G. a. candida'': | ||
| + | [[Image:White Tern Juv JPG.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Mzungu|Mzungu}}<br />[[Norfolk Island]], May 2016]] | ||
:*[[Seychelles]] and Mascarene islands and south Pacific to [[Hawaii]], Clipperton and Cocos islands | :*[[Seychelles]] and Mascarene islands and south Pacific to [[Hawaii]], Clipperton and Cocos islands | ||
*''G. a. leucopes'': | *''G. a. leucopes'': | ||
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*''G. a. microrhyncha'': | *''G. a. microrhyncha'': | ||
:*Marquesas, Phoenix and Line islands - sometimes regarded as full species, '''Little White Tern''' | :*Marquesas, Phoenix and Line islands - sometimes regarded as full species, '''Little White Tern''' | ||
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | Coasts, coral islets. | + | Coasts, vegetated coral islets. |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | This is a seabird which breeds on small islands. The egg is laid directly on a branch without any nest. | + | ====Breeding==== |
| + | [[Image:17564sterna bianca 2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|axel1950|axel1950}}<br />Bird Island, [[Seychelles]], February 2006]] | ||
| + | This is a seabird which breeds on small islands. The egg is laid directly on a branch without any nest; they also use rocky ledges to lay their eggs. | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Their diet consists mostly of small fish and marine insects. They also sometimes take squid and crustaceans. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug15}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2016) |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 21:39, 29 May 2016
Alternative name: Angel Tern, Fairy Tern, Little Fairy-tern
- Gygis alba
Includes: Little White Tern
Identification
10-12" (25-30.5 cm); wings 28" (71 cm)
- Snowy white with dark eye
- Black bill with blue base
- Black eye ring
- Light grey feet (microrhyncha with black feet)
Distribution
Seychelles. Polynesia, Micronesia, Fiji, Marquesas
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 4 subspecies[1]:
- G. a. alba:
- Fernando de Noronha, Trinidade, Martin Vas Rocks, Ascension Island and St. Helena island
- G. a. candida:
- Seychelles and Mascarene islands and south Pacific to Hawaii, Clipperton and Cocos islands
- G. a. leucopes:
- Henderson Island and Pitcairn Island
- G. a. microrhyncha:
- Marquesas, Phoenix and Line islands - sometimes regarded as full species, Little White Tern
Habitat
Coasts, vegetated coral islets.
Behaviour
Breeding
This is a seabird which breeds on small islands. The egg is laid directly on a branch without any nest; they also use rocky ledges to lay their eggs.
Diet
Their diet consists mostly of small fish and marine insects. They also sometimes take squid and crustaceans.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White Tern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White_Tern
