White-Tern (Gygis alba)

Order: Charadriiformes | Family: Laridae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

white_tern
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Pacific Islands

white_tern
Age: Juvenile/Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Pacific Islands

Identification & Behavior: ~27.5 cm (11 in). The White Tern is pure white with a dark bill and dark iris. The juvenile is also pure white with faint pale brown spots. The combination of slender and small size and pure white plumage are unmistakable.

Status: The White Tern is known in Peru from a sight record about 175 nautical miles west of Chimbote, northern Peru.

Name in Spanish: Gaviotín Blanco.

Sub-species: White-Tern (Gygis alba).

Meaning of Name: Gygis: Gr. Gugës= mythical bird mentioned by Dionysius. alba: L. alba= white.

See more of the Family Laridae

Distribution Map
Voice:
Generally silent at sea.

References:

- Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum. http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 01/01/2015.

Sitewide References.