White Tern

SCI Name:  Gygis alba
Protonym:  Sterna alba Mus.Carls. fasc.1 pl.11
Taxonomy:  Charadriiformes / Laridae / Gygis
Taxonomy Code:  whiter
Type Locality:  East Indies, Cape of Good Hope and Islands of the Pacific Ocean = Ascension Island, designated by Mathews, antea, p. 441.
Author:  Sparrman
Publish Year:  1786
IUCN Status:  

DEFINITIONS

GYGIS
(Laridae; Ϯ Common White Tern G. alba candida) Gr. γυγης gugēs mythical water-bird mentioned by Dionysius. "6. Genus. Gygis, Wagl.,  Seidenschwalbe (Nov. gen.)  Rostrum subulatum, apice compressum; digiti et tarsus breves; ungues magni; ptilosis unicolor, candida, sericea; pedes (coerulei) et rostrum bicolores; cauda forficata. — Species libenter arboribus insidet!   Species: 1. Gyg. candida. (Sterna candida R. Forst. in manuscr., Gmel.)  ...  Habitat in insulis Eacowe, Tonga-Tabu, Waihòo, Waitahòo, Otaheitee, Huaheine caet., ubi adpellatur Plerae , (Tera-pòpa in Bolabola); arboribus insidet." (Wagler 1832); "Gygis Wagler, Isis von Oken, 1832, col. 1223. Type, by monotypy, Sterna candida Gmelin." (Peters, 1934, II, p. 348).
Var. Gyges.
Synon. Alphagygis, Leucanous.

alba
L. albus  white, dead white (cf. candidus  glittering white) (see also albus).
● "76. ARDEA.  ...  alba.  17. A. capite lævi, corpore albo, rostro rubro.  Ardea tota alba, capite lævi. Fn. svec. 132.  Ardea alba major. Will. orn. 205. t. 43. Raj. av. 99. n. 4.  Habitat in Europa." (Linnaeus 1758) (Ardea).
● ex “Cacatua” of Brisson 1760, and “Kakatoës des Moluques” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 263 (Cacatua).
● ex “White Sheathbill” of Latham 1785, and “Vaginalis” or “Chionis” of Forster 1788 (Chionis).
● ex “Fedoa canadensis, rostro recurvo” of Edwards 1750, and “Limosa candida” of Brisson 1760 (?syn Limosa haemastica).
● "99. MOTACILLA.  ...  alba.  12. M. pectore nigro, rectricibus duabus lateralibus dimidiato oblique albis.  Motacilla pectore nigro. Fn. svec. 214.  Motacilla. Gesn. av. 618. Aldr. orn. l. 17. c. 23. Bell. av. 88. 6. Will. orn. 171. t. 42. Raj. av. 75. n. 1. Alb. av. 1. p. 49. t. 49. Frisch. av. . t. 23. f. 4. Olin. av. 43.  Habitat in Europa." (Linnaeus 1758) (Motacilla).
● ex “Spatule blanche de L’Île de Luçon” of Sonnerat 1776. “Mr Ogilvie Grant argues for the adoption of Scopoli’s name of P. alba, founded on Sonnerat’s plate. Although the bird is said to have come from Luzon, it is well-known that many of Sonnerat’s species were obtained in Africa, and set down in error as being from the Philippines. That this has been the case with the present species hardly admits of a doubt” (Sharpe 1898) (Platalea).
● ex “Guira Panga” or “Cotinga Blanc” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Procnias).
● ex “White-breasted Petrel” of Latham 1785 (Pterodroma).
● ex “Mouette cendrée tachetée” (= ☼) of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 387 (syn. Rissa tridactyla).
● ex “Gobe-mouche blanc huppé du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 234, fig. 2 (syn. Terpsiphone paradisi).
● ex “Curiçaca” of Marcgrave 1648, and “Courlis à col blanc de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 976 (syn. Theristicus caudatus).
● ex “Aluco minor” of Aldrovandus 1603, “Common Barn-Owl”, “White-Owl” or “Church-Owl” of Ray 1676, and “Common Barn-Owl” or “White Owl” of Albin 1731 (Tyto).

SUBSPECIES

White Tern (Atlantic)
SCI Name: Gygis alba alba
alba
L. albus  white, dead white (cf. candidus  glittering white) (see also albus).
● "76. ARDEA.  ...  alba.  17. A. capite lævi, corpore albo, rostro rubro.  Ardea tota alba, capite lævi. Fn. svec. 132.  Ardea alba major. Will. orn. 205. t. 43. Raj. av. 99. n. 4.  Habitat in Europa." (Linnaeus 1758) (Ardea).
● ex “Cacatua” of Brisson 1760, and “Kakatoës des Moluques” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 263 (Cacatua).
● ex “White Sheathbill” of Latham 1785, and “Vaginalis” or “Chionis” of Forster 1788 (Chionis).
● ex “Fedoa canadensis, rostro recurvo” of Edwards 1750, and “Limosa candida” of Brisson 1760 (?syn Limosa haemastica).
● "99. MOTACILLA.  ...  alba.  12. M. pectore nigro, rectricibus duabus lateralibus dimidiato oblique albis.  Motacilla pectore nigro. Fn. svec. 214.  Motacilla. Gesn. av. 618. Aldr. orn. l. 17. c. 23. Bell. av. 88. 6. Will. orn. 171. t. 42. Raj. av. 75. n. 1. Alb. av. 1. p. 49. t. 49. Frisch. av. . t. 23. f. 4. Olin. av. 43.  Habitat in Europa." (Linnaeus 1758) (Motacilla).
● ex “Spatule blanche de L’Île de Luçon” of Sonnerat 1776. “Mr Ogilvie Grant argues for the adoption of Scopoli’s name of P. alba, founded on Sonnerat’s plate. Although the bird is said to have come from Luzon, it is well-known that many of Sonnerat’s species were obtained in Africa, and set down in error as being from the Philippines. That this has been the case with the present species hardly admits of a doubt” (Sharpe 1898) (Platalea).
● ex “Guira Panga” or “Cotinga Blanc” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Procnias).
● ex “White-breasted Petrel” of Latham 1785 (Pterodroma).
● ex “Mouette cendrée tachetée” (= ☼) of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 387 (syn. Rissa tridactyla).
● ex “Gobe-mouche blanc huppé du Cap de Bonne Espérance” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 234, fig. 2 (syn. Terpsiphone paradisi).
● ex “Curiçaca” of Marcgrave 1648, and “Courlis à col blanc de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 976 (syn. Theristicus caudatus).
● ex “Aluco minor” of Aldrovandus 1603, “Common Barn-Owl”, “White-Owl” or “Church-Owl” of Ray 1676, and “Common Barn-Owl” or “White Owl” of Albin 1731 (Tyto).

White Tern (Pacific)
SCI Name: Gygis alba candida/leucopes
GYGIS
(Laridae; Ϯ Common White Tern G. alba candida) Gr. γυγης gugēs mythical water-bird mentioned by Dionysius. "6. Genus. Gygis, Wagl.,  Seidenschwalbe (Nov. gen.)  Rostrum subulatum, apice compressum; digiti et tarsus breves; ungues magni; ptilosis unicolor, candida, sericea; pedes (coerulei) et rostrum bicolores; cauda forficata. — Species libenter arboribus insidet!   Species: 1. Gyg. candida. (Sterna candida R. Forst. in manuscr., Gmel.)  ...  Habitat in insulis Eacowe, Tonga-Tabu, Waihòo, Waitahòo, Otaheitee, Huaheine caet., ubi adpellatur Plerae , (Tera-pòpa in Bolabola); arboribus insidet." (Wagler 1832); "Gygis Wagler, Isis von Oken, 1832, col. 1223. Type, by monotypy, Sterna candida Gmelin." (Peters, 1934, II, p. 348).
Var. Gyges.
Synon. Alphagygis, Leucanous.

White Tern (Little)
SCI Name: Gygis alba microrhyncha
microrhyncha
Gr. μικρος mikros  small; ῥυγχος rhunkhos  bill.