Photo: Duncan Wright, USFWS / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Atlantic White Tern
Gygis alba
Atlantic White Tern (Gygis alba) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Atlantic White Tern (Gygis alba) is a member of the Laridae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 117 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Gygis
- Species alba
Where it lives
TrO tropical and subtropical South Atlantic Ocean islands: Fernando de Noronha, Trindade (northeastern, south of northeastern Brazil); Ascension and St. Helena (tropical southeastern Atlantic Ocean)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 117 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Atlantic White Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Atlantic White Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Atlantic White Tern (Gygis alba) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers TrO tropical and subtropical South Atlantic Ocean islands: Fernando de Noronha, Trindade (ne, s of ne Brazil); Ascension and St. Helena (tropical se Atlantic Ocean).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 117 g, with a wing length of about 23.3 cm and a tail of around 9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Atlantic White Tern?
The Atlantic White Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 117 g.
Where does the Atlantic White Tern live?
The Atlantic White Tern is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering TrO tropical and subtropical South Atlantic Ocean islands: Fernando de Noronha, Trindade (ne, s of ne Brazil); Ascension and St. Helena (tropical se Atlantic Ocean), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Atlantic White Tern belong to?
The Atlantic White Tern (Gygis alba) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Atlantic White Tern eat?
The Atlantic White Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Atlantic White Tern migrate?
The Atlantic White Tern is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Atlantic White Tern endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Atlantic White Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Atlantic White Tern — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Atlantic White Tern's range?
The Atlantic White Tern has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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