List of Birds of The Cook Islands - Terns

Terns

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae

Terns are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in the Cook Islands.

• Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo
• Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata
• Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
• Blue Noddy Procelsterna cerulea
• White Tern Gygis alba