Bridled Tern

Onychoprion anaethetus (Scopoli, 1786)

Bridled Tern, Onychoprion anaethetus, breeds on rocky islands across tropical and subtropical seas, mainly close to continents. It is a seabird in the gull and tern family, and its range also includes the eastern Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the western Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, West Africa, Mexico and Central America. It is a migratory bird with a wide winter range through tropical oceans. It is recognised by its dark upperparts, white underparts, white forehead and eyebrow, and pale hindneck collar.

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Laridae — Gulls, Terns, Skimmers

Breeding range

Tropical Ocean: widespread tropical and subtropical is., mostly near continents (except e Polynesia and Hawaiian Is. and other remote is.)