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Gulls, Terns, Skimmers

The Laridae family, consisting of approximately 100 species across 22 genera, includes widely recognizable seabirds such as gulls, terns, skimmers, and kittiwakes. Originating from the French scholar Rafinesque in 1815, this family has experienced various taxonomic reclassifications over time, once separating gulls from terns and skimmers into distinct families. However, molecular studies now support the grouping of these birds under Laridae to reflect their evolutionary relationships more accurately. These seabirds, whose lineage split from that of skuas and auks before the end of the Cretaceous period, have been soaring the skies since the early Paleocene, some 60 million years ago, although there is debate regarding the accuracy of these early dates. Gulls, along with skimmers and noddies, are unique among shorebirds for developing ultraviolet vision. The global distribution of Laridae is a testament to the adaptability of these mostly aerial creatures, whose earliest ancestors were shorebirds.

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A photo of a African Skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris)

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris
A photo of a Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata)

Antarctic Tern

Sterna vittata
A photo of a Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaea
A photo of a Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus
A photo of a Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana)

Black-naped Tern

Sterna sumatrana
A photo of a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

Black Skimmer

Rynchops niger
A photo of a Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

Black Tern

Chlidonias niger
A photo of a Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)

Bridled Tern

Onychoprion anaethetus
A photo of a Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus)

Brown Noddy

Anous stolidus
A photo of a Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia
A photo of a Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo
A photo of a Damara Tern (Sternula balaenarum)

Damara Tern

Sternula balaenarum
A photo of a Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)

Elegant Tern

Thalasseus elegans
A photo of a Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan
A photo of a Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Greater Crested Tern

Thalasseus bergii
A photo of a Grey-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
A photo of a Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica
A photo of a Hartlaub's Gull (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)

Hartlaub's Gull

Chroicocephalus hartlaubii
A photo of a Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

Kelp Gull

Larus dominicanus
A photo of a Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla
A photo of a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus
A photo of a Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)

Lesser Crested Tern

Thalasseus bengalensis

Lesser Noddy

Anous tenuirostris
A photo of a Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)

Little Tern

Sternula albifrons
A photo of a Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)

Roseate Tern

Sterna dougallii
A photo of a Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)

Royal Tern

Thalasseus maximus
A photo of a Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

Sabine's Gull

Xema sabini
A photo of a Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Sandwich Tern

Thalasseus sandvicensis
A photo of a Saunders's Tern (Sternula saundersi)

Saunders's Tern

Sternula saundersi
A photo of a Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei)

Slender-billed Gull

Chroicocephalus genei
A photo of a Sooty Gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)

Sooty Gull

Ichthyaetus hemprichii
A photo of a Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus)

Sooty Tern

Onychoprion fuscatus
A photo of a West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis)

West African Crested Tern

Thalasseus albididorsalis
A photo of a Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

Whiskered Tern

Chlidonias hybrida
A photo of a White-cheeked Tern (Sterna repressa)

White-cheeked Tern

Sterna repressa
A photo of a White Tern (Gygis alba)

White Tern

Gygis alba
A photo of a White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

White-winged Black Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus
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Recommend for any bird watcher
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