What is "gygis"

Gygis is a genus of birds in the tern family. It consists of one species,

• White tern, Gygis alba
  • Little white tern, Gygis alba microrhyncha

The little white tern is usually considered to be a subspecies, G. a. microrhyncha, of the white tern.

These are small, all white terns of tropical oceans. They nest on coral islands, usually on trees with thin branches but also on rocky ledges and on man-made structures. They feed on small fish caught by plunge diving.