Most terns were formerly treated as belonging to one large genus "Sterna", with just a few dark species placed in other genera; in 1959, only the noddies and the Inca Tern were excluded from "Sterna".
Most terns were formerly treated as belonging to one large genus "Sterna". This was with just a few dark species. These just a few dark species were placed in other genera. Only the noddies and the Inca Tern were excluded from "Sterna". This was in 1959.