Neornithes Gadow, 1893 - living birds
   Neognathae Pycraft 1900 see Cohort Neognathae Pycraft, 1900
     Neoaves Sibley et al. 1988 see Subcohort Neoaves Sibley et al., 1988
       [Order] Charadriiformes Huxley, 1867 - shorebirds, gulls, auks
         Family Laridae Vigors, 1825 - gulls, terns and skimmers
           Subfamily Sterninae Bonaparte, 1838 - terns
             Genus Sterna Linnaeus, 1758
               Sterna fuscata Linnaeus, 1766 - sooty tern
                 1 Sterna fuscata fuscata Linnaeus, 1766
                 2 Sterna fuscata nubilosa Sparrman, 1788
                 3 Sterna fuscata serrata Wagler, 1830
                 4 Sterna fuscata kermadeci (Mathews, 1916)
                 5 Sterna fuscata oahuensis Bloxham, 1826
                 6 Sterna fuscata crissalis (Lawrence, 1872)
                 7 Sterna fuscata luctuosa Philippi & Landbeck, 1866