White Tern, Common White Tern or Fairy Tern (Gygis alba)

            The white tern or common white tern (Gygis alba) 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 (Gygis microrhyncha), previously considered a subspecies of the white tern (Gygis alba microrhyncha), is now recognised as a separate species

The white tern has a wingspan of 76–87 cm (30–34 in). It has white plumage and a long black bill.[14] Nesting on coral islands, usually on trees with small branches but also on rocky ledges and on man-made structures, the white tern feeds on small fish which it catches by plunge diving. 

The white tern ranges widely across the Pacific Ocean from the coasts of Chile and Colombia to New Zealand and along the eastern and southern coasts of Asia from China to India, South Maldives, the islands of the Indian Ocean, and the coast of South Africa.[1] Rarely it is also found in Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, and on some islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a pelagic and epipelagic bird, living along the coast and moving into wooded areas during the breeding season.

This image was taken on Nuku Hiva, one of the Marquesas Islands in the Pacific Ocean

Taken in: French Polynesia / Hakapehi (show map)

Taken on: February 4, 2024

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Terns

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Nuku Hiva

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Common White Tern

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Camera: Canon EOS R5, f/7.1, 1/3200 sec, 500mm, ISO 500 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS R5
Lens:	RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	1/3200 sec
Focal Length:	500mm
ISO:	500
Exposure Bias:	-1/3 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Shutter speed priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 13.1 (Windows)
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