LC
Little White Tern Gygis microrhyncha



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Distribution

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 2,850,000
Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) 4,740,000
Severely fragmented? no -
Population and trend
Value Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Number of mature individuals unknown not applicable not applicable 0
Population trend stable suspected -
Generation length (years) 15.3 - - -

Trend justification: The overall population trend is stable, although some populations have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding Non-breeding Passage
French Polynesia extant native yes
Kiribati extant native yes
United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) extant uncertain

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
French Polynesia Motane (Mohotani) Marine

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands suitable breeding
Marine Intertidal Rocky Shoreline major breeding
Marine Intertidal Tidepools major breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Back Slope major breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Foreslope (Outer Reef Slope) major breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Inter-Reef Rubble Substrate major breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Inter-Reef Soft Substrate major breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Lagoon major breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Outer Reef Channel major breeding
Marine Neritic Macroalgal/Kelp major resident
Marine Neritic Pelagic major resident
Marine Neritic Seagrass (Submerged) major resident
Marine Neritic Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel major resident
Marine Neritic Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs major resident
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy major resident
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy-Mud major resident
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) suitable breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Rattus rattus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Gygis microrhyncha. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/little-white-tern-gygis-microrhyncha on 01/10/2023. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org on 01/10/2023.