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White Tern

Gygis albaOrder: CHARADRIIFORMESFamily: Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)

Breeding Location:

Islands, sandy or rocky



Breeding Type:

Monogamous



Breeding Population:

Common in range



Egg Color:

Off-white heavily marked with brown, gray, and black streaks



Number of Eggs:

1



Incubation Days:

33 - 41



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

No nest built



Migration:

Nonmigratory



Splitbar

Overview

White Tern: Medium-sized tern, also called Common Fairy-tern, snow white overall, dark eyes and black eyerings make it appear to have large eyes. Notched tail. Wings and tail may appear translucent when overhead. Bill is black with dark blue base, legs and feet are blue-gray.

Range and Habitat

White Tern: Found along the southern coast of Oahu and in city parks where they can become quite tame. Nests and roosts in trees of dense forests or low vegetation.

Breeding and Nesting

White Tern: One off-white egg, heavily marked with gray, brown, and black streaks, is laid in a shallow depression of a tree branch or ledge. Egg is incubated by both adults for 33 to 41 days. Chick fledges around 48 to 53 days after hatching.

Foraging and Feeding

White Tern: Feeds mostly on goatfish and flying fish, sometimes takes squid. Forages by snatching fish from surface of water and air-dipping, catching fish in midair as they leap out of the water to avoid larger fish.

Vocalization

White Tern: Call is given in flight or perched, and may vary in pitch, intensity, rate and number of notes. Described as "eenk-eenk-eenk" or "grrich-grrich-grrich".

Similar Species

White Tern: Blue Noddy is very light gray, and may appear white in bright sunlight.

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Family
Species Gygis alba
Length11 - 13 Inches
Wingspan Inches

White Tern

White Tern: Medium-sized tern, also called Common Fairy-tern, snow white overall, dark eyes and black eyerings make it appear to have large eyes. Notched tail. Wings and tail may appear translucent when overhead. Bill is black with dark blue base, legs and feet are blue-gray.

● Song: "eenk-eenk-eenk" or "grrich-grrich-grrich"

● Foraging & Feeding: White Tern: Feeds mostly on goatfish and flying fish, sometimes takes squid. Forages by snatching fish from surface of water and air-dipping, catching fish in midair as they leap out of the water to avoid larger fish.

● Breeding & nesting: White Tern: One off-white egg, heavily marked with gray, brown, and black streaks, is laid in a shallow depression of a tree branch or ledge. Egg is incubated by both adults for 33 to 41 days. Chick fledges around 48 to 53 days after hatching.

● Similar species: White Tern: Blue Noddy is very light gray, and may appear white in bright sunlight.

Flight Pattern

Swerves, swoops, and soars.
White Tern Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: White Tern: Found along the southern coast of Oahu and in city parks where they can become quite tame. Nests and roosts in trees of dense forests or low vegetation.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationCommon in range
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight4.1 Ounces