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Gygis candida Blue-billed White-tern Kākāia RR
f.LARIDAE Gulls sf.Gyginae
Gygis candida Blue-billed White-tern Kākāia RR
f.LARIDAE Gulls sf.Gyginae
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Cook Islands Status Summary

Show Notes
    Intl. NamesBlue‑billed White‑tern EN    [iNat. see Comment], Common White Tern EN    [BirdLife], Common Fairytern EN    [Pratt 2020], White Tern EN    [formerly], Fairy Tern EN    [formerly], Feenseeschwalbe DE
    Local NamesKākāiaRR,MG,AT,MK,MT,TNs,TNw  PirakiAK  KakavaiPL,MH,RK  KākāPK,NS 
    Pacific Names‘Ītā‘eta‘e TAH   Kītaketake TUA   Manu-o-Kū HAW
    Sci. NamesGygis candida (accepted name) [see Comment], Gygis alba [pre-2020 as a single species], Gygis alba candida [as a subspecies], Sterna candida [Original]
    High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, c.Birds, f.Gulls - Bird
    High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.TETRAPODA, c.AVES, sc.NEOGNATHAE, o.Charadriiformes, f.LARIDAE, sf.Gyginae
    Natl. PresencePresentOceanicP?
    Sth. PresenceRR++++MG++?AT++++MK++?MT++?AK++?PL++?MN++?TK++?
    Nth. PresenceTN++++MH++?RK++?PK++++NS++?SW++?
    VouchersPK2004  
    Local OriginNative; Resident
    Global RangeNative: islands only: Indian and Pacific Oceans (E.Australia to C. and S.America), absent Indonesia - Philippines - PNG; 
    HabitatLand and Aquatic; Marine; Nearshore; Oceanic [Pelagic, nest on Land]
    ThreatenedNo Content
    InvasivenessNo Content
    BiosecurityNo Content
    Medical StatusNo Content
    Harmful StatusNo Content
    UsesNo Content
    IdentificationNo Content
    Similar SpeciesNo Content
    Interest NoteNo Content

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Multimedia & Other Resources

Click on a thumbnail to see the full image and image details.

    speciesid 8500
    In flight
    speciesid 8500
    Adult feeding nestling
    speciesid 8500
    Fish bones below a Kākāia nest
    speciesid 8500
    Pair resting on Pandanus tectorius branch
    speciesid 8500
    In flight, nestling, egg
    speciesid 8500
    Nestling swallowing fish
    speciesid 8500
    Eggs on branch
    speciesid 8500

Vernacular Names

Scientific Names and Taxonomy

National Distribution & Vouchers

Identification

Local Origin and Global Range

Habitat

no data available

Threatened

no data available

Invasive/Pest Status

no data available

Biosecurity

Medicinal

no data available

Species Uses

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.03.23 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
Please refer to our use policy.



speciesid 8500

In flight - Cook Islands, Ma‘uke - Gerald McCormack

speciesid 8500

Adult feeding nestling - Cook Islands, Ātiu - Gerald McCormack 2010-02

Audio: Calls near trees - Cook Islands, Rarotonga - Michael Taylor
Video: Adult landing (© TVNZ) - Cook Islands, Takūtea - TVNZ 1989

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speciesid 8500
Gygis candida
Blue-billed White-tern
Kākāia RR
LARIDAE

5BD061b_Gygi-alba_CK-MK_GMcCormack7_A10-51max_TX.jpg// 5BD061b_Gygi-alba_CK-MK_GMcCormack7_A10-51max_MX.jpg// {Gygis candida} // Blue-billed White-tern// Kākāia ^^RR¬¬// LARIDAE//



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