Grey-backed Tern (Onychoprion lunatus)

Other Names (World)
Grey-backed Tern, Gray-backed Tern, Spectacled Tern

Family
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Skimmers)

Size
36 - 38 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Peale, 1848)

Habitat
Breeds on oceanic islands, on beaches or low cliffs. In non-beeding season, pelagic.

Range (Guide)

American Samoa, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands (NB), Micronesia [Federated States of] (NB), Northern Mariana Islands (B), Palau (NB), Solomon Islands, United States Minor Outlying Islands (NB), USA.

Vagrant to Japan, Samoa, Tuvalu.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 100,000 - 1,000,000 (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
High-pitched screeching calls at colonies, otherwise generally silent. Similar to that of Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) but softer and less harsh.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files

Spectacled Tern (Onychoprion) [XC766354]
by Saxony Charlot from Kure Atoll, United States (call, flight call)

Spectacled Tern (Onychoprion lunatus) [XC766468]
by id from Kure Atoll, United States (call)

Subspecies
No subspecies.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Grey-backed Tern (Onychoprion lunatus) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Grey-backed Tern see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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