Spectacled Tern

The Grey-backed Tern, Onychoprion lunatus, is a seabird in the tern family. A close relative of the Bridled and Sooty Terns , the Grey-backed Tern is less common than the other members of its genus and is has been studied less. The three species, along with the Aleutian Tern were recently split into a new genus Onychoprion from Sterna . They resemble the Sooty Tern but with a grey back instead of a black one. Their breast and underparts are white, and the have a black eye line from the bill to the back of the head which gives them their other name, the Spectacled Tern.

The Spectacled Tern is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

* Grey-backed Tern Sterna lunata Spectacled Tern A distant adult in flight Caroline Islands (Monotypic species) Alan Tate 1 April 2007 21 weeks ago 2 Sounds 0 recordings * No sound recordings available yet * Send or share this page * Email this pageEmail this page About us | Contact us | FAQ Advertising more » More

Spectacled Tern Onychoprion lunatus Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus Black-fronted Tern Onychoprion albostriatus River Tern Sterna aurantia Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii White-fronted Tern Sterna striata Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea Common Tern Sterna hirundo White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Antarctic Tern Sterna vittata Kerguelen Tern Sterna virgata Forster's Tern Sterna More