Gygis candida
The White Tern, *Gygis alba*, often referred to as the Fairy Tern or Blue-billed White Tern, is an ethereal seabird renowned for its striking, pure white plumage and delicate appearance. Adults typically measure 28-33 cm (11-13 in) in length with an impressive wingspan of 66-77 cm (26-30 in), weighing between 90-140 grams (3.2-4.9 oz). Their most notable field marks include a pristine white body, a relatively large, dark eye encircled by a delicate black eye-ring, and disproportionately large...
Primarily pelagic, inhabiting tropical and subtropical oceanic islands, atolls, and coral reefs, often nesting in trees or on cliffs near rich marine foraging grounds.
Consists almost exclusively of small fish (e.g., anchovies, gobies, flying fish larvae) and occasionally small squid, caught by aerial plunge-diving.
White Terns are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging over warm ocean waters and roosting communally on tree branches or cliff ledges at night. Their foraging strategy involves agile aerial maneuvers, including hovering gracefully before plunge-diving headfirst into the water to snatch s...
The White Tern boasts a vast circumtropical and subtropical distribution, primarily inhabiting remote oceanic islands across the Pacific, Indian, and South Atlantic Oceans. Its breeding range encompasses numerous archipelagos, including the Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, Marquesas, Pitcairn ...
Least Concern
- The White Tern is one of the few bird species that builds no nest, laying its single egg directly on a bare tree branch, rock ledge, or even artificial structures. - Their chicks are born with specially adapted, strong gripping feet that help them cling to their precarious perches, preventing f...