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Atlantic, Common or Little White Tern

Gygis [alba, candida or microrhyncha] (= Gygis alba) (Sparrman, A 1786)

The white tern or common white tern is a small seabird found across the tropical oceans of the world. It is sometimes known as the fairy tern although this name is potentially confusing as it is also the common name of Sternula nereis. Other names for the species include angel tern and white noddy in English, and manu-o-Kū in Hawaiian. The little white tern, previously considered a subspecies of the white tern, is now recognised as a separate species. Source: Wikipedia




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Classification
Order:
  Charadriiformes
Family:
  Laridae
Genus:
   Gygis
Scientific:
  Gygis alba


Original description

Citation:
  (Sparrman, A 1786)

Reference:
   Mus. Carlsonianum fasc.1 pl.11

Protonym:
  Sterna alba

Type locality:
  East Indies, Cape of Good Hope and Islands of the Pacific Ocean = Ascension Island, designated by Mathews, antea, p. 441.

Link:
  https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41149057


Avibase identifiers

Avibase ID:
  05C7074BFEEFB5A9

Avibase ID:
  avibase-05C7074B

Short link:
  https://avibase.ca/05C7074B


Taxonomic Serial Number:
  TSN: 176954

Geographic range:

  • Gygis [alba, candida or microrhyncha]: widespread on tropical and subtropical islands (except Caribbean and northwestern and eastern Indian Ocean)
  • Gygis alba alba: Fernando de Noronha, Trindade, Martin Vas Rocks, Ascension, and St. Helena islands (tropical South Atlantic Ocean)
  • Gygis alba leucopes: Henderson Island and Pitcairn Island
  • Gygis candida: Seychelles and Mascarene islands and southern Pacific to Hawaii, Clipperton, and Cocos islands
  • Gygis microrhyncha: Marquesas, and Phoenix and Line islands
  • Show more...
English:
Atlantic, Common or Little White Tern
French:
Gygis blanche ou G. à bec fin


Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:

African Bird Club Checklist 2004:
Fairy Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist August 2005:
Fairy Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist March 2007:
Fairy Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist January 2008:
Fairy Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist May 2009:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
African Bird Club Checklist March 2010:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 5th edition (incl. 34th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (1983):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 35th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 36th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 37th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 38th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 39th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 40th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 6th edition (incl. 41st suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (1998):
Common White-Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 42nd suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 43rd suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 44th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 45th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 46th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 47th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 48th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 49th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 50th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 51st suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 52nd suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 53rd suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 54th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 55th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 56th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Union 7th edition (incl. 57th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 58th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 59th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 60th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 61st suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 61st suppl. and addendum):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 62nd suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 63rd suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 64th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 65th suppl.):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current):
Atlantic, Common or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba, candida or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024):
Atlantic, Common or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba, candida or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021):
Common White-Tern or Little White Tern ( Gygis [alba or microrhyncha])
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993, révision 2009):
Gygis blanche ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 1st edition:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2021:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2022:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2023:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2024:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 3rd edition:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (as published):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2015:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2016:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2017:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2018:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Clements, version 2019:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
eBird version 1.50:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 1.52:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 1.53:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 1.54:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 1.55:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2015:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2016:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2017:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2018:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2019:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2021:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2022:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2023:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
eBird version 2024:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 2]
Howard and Moore 2nd edition:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2):
Atoll Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2):
Atoll Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0:
Angel Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.1:
Angel Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.5:
Angel Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Morony, Bock and Farrand:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Oriental Bird Club:
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds:
Gygis alba [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original):
Gygis alba [version 1]
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition):
Gygis alba [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (24/10/2003):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (14/09/2005):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (16/07/2006):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (26/09/2007):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (01/05/2008):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (30/09/2009):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (19/08/2010):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (8/08/2011):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (8/02/2012):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (4/09/2012):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (17/03/2013):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (9/02/2014):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (16/02/2015):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (28/07/2016):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (22/04/2017):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (4/06/2018):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (6/06/2019):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (20/02/2020):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (8/06/2020):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (24/08/2021):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (24/07/2022):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (28/09/2023):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
South American Classification Committee (27/07/2024):
White Tern ( Gygis alba) [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Gygis alba [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource:
Gygis alba [version 1]

Taxonomic status:

Species status: species group (sometimes a species)

Your sightings

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Related taxa

Alternative arrangements:  1  2 

Highlight taxa in a checklist (shown in red)

Other synonyms

See also the taxonomic synonyms table.


Afrikaans: Witsterretjie
Bulgarian: Бяла рибарка
Catalan: Xatrac blanc comú
Czech: Nody belostný, nody bělostný
Danish: Atlantisk Silketerne
German: Feenseeschwalbe
Maldivian: Dondheeni
English: Angel Tern, Atlantic, Common or Little White Tern, Atoll Tern, Common White Tern, Common White-Tern, Common White-Tern or Little White Tern, Fairy Tern, White noddy, White Tern, White-Tern
English (Hawaii): Manu o Kū - White Tern
English, HBW: Common/Little White Tern
English, Hawaii: Manu o Kū - White Tern
English (IOC): White Tern
English (United States): White Tern
Esperanto: blanka ŝterno
Spanish: Charrán Blanco, Charrán blanco común, Gaviotín albo, Gaviotín Níveo, golondrina-boba blanca
Spanish (Chile): Gaviotín albo, Gaviotín blanco
Spanish (Colombia): Gaviotín Níveo
Spanish (Costa Rica): Charrán Blanco
Spanish (Ecuador): Gaviotín Albo
Spanish (Spain): Charrán blanco, Charrán blanco común
Spanish (HBW): White Tern
Spanish (Mexico): Charrán Blanco, golondrina-boba blanca
Spanish (Panama): Gaviotín Blanco
Spanish (Peru): Gaviotín Blanco
Estonian: haldjastiir
Finnish: Keijutiira
French: Gygis blanche, Gygis blanche ou G. à bec fin
Hawaiian: Manu-o-ku, Manu-o-Kū
Croatian: Bijela čigra
Hungarian: tündércsér
Indonesian: Burung Dara Laut Putih, Burung Dara-laut Putih, Camar putih mata cincin, Daralaut Putih, Dara-laut putih
Icelandic: Bjartþerna
Italian: Sterna bianca
Japanese (romaji): shiro aji-sashi, shiroajisashi, Shiro-ajisashi
Japanese: シロアジサシ
Japanese (Kanji): 白鯵刺
Korean: 흰제비갈매기
Scientific: Gygis [alba or microrhyncha], Gygis [alba, candida or microrhyncha], Gygis alba, Gygis alba alba, Sterna alba
Lithuanian: Baltoji fėja
Latvian: baltais zīriņš
Malayalam: വെൺ കടലാള
Malay: Burung Camar Putih
Dutch: Opaalstern, Witte Stern
Norwegian Nynorsk: Silketerne
Norwegian: Silketerne
Polish: atolówka, rybitwa biala, rybitwa biała
Pinyin: bái xuán-ōu, bái yàn-ōu
Portuguese: Grazina, trinta-réis-branco
Portuguese (Brazil): grazina, trinta-réis-branco
Portuguese (Portugal): gaivina-branca, Grazina
Russian: Белая крачка
Slovak: gygis biely
Serbian: Bela čigra
Swedish: Fetärna
Turkish: Sütbeyaz Sumru
Tahitian: itata'e
Ukrainian: Крячок білий
Vietnamese: Chim Nhàn trắng, Nhàn trắng
Chinese: 白燕鸥, 白燕鸥(白玄鸥), 白玄鸥
Chinese (Traditional): 白燕鷗, 白玄鷗

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