BLUE-BILLED WHITE TERN Gygis candida

This is the Pacific species of White Tern, it can be distinguished by the blue bill-base, which can extend to half way along the bill, although it is not always apparent in the field. Two races occur, one confined to the Pitcairn group. Little White Tern,microrhyncha from the Marquesas, Phoenix and Line, is also split, but size is the main difference and, although I have seen them, at present I cannot locate a photo. These were all taken on slide film, I suspect the centre bird to be a Little, but cannot prove it.

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