Spectacled Tern

Overview

The spectacled tern (Onychoprion lunatus), also known as the grey-backed tern, is a seabird in the family Laridae. It is a less common relative of the bridled and sooty terns, having been recently separated into the genus Onychoprion. The species is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Resembles the sooty tern but features a grey back rather than a black one.
• White breast and underparts.
• Distinctive black eye line extending from the bill to the back of the head.

Habitat

The species breeds on islands across the tropical Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the Tuamotu, Society, Line, and Phoenix Islands. Outside the breeding season, it is partly migratory, with birds from the Hawaiian Islands flying south and others dispersing to areas such as Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Easter Island.

Did you know?

The spectacled tern is sometimes confused with the bridled and sooty terns, despite belonging to a distinct genus split from Sterna in 2005.