Gygis alba Sparrman, 1786

With its wholly white plumage, the White Tern is unique among terns. The feathers are so white that the wings may appear translucent in flight. The species is a medium sized tern, which has no plumage variation during breeding. The tail is long with a shallow fork. The bill, eyes and eye rings are black and the legs and feet are greyish. Individuals are faintly smudged with ginger colour around the head and on the back and wings. The principal call of the White Tern is a repeated guttural heech heech. Adult and young White Terns are generally quiet at the nest site