Arctic tern
The Arctic tern is a small seabird known for making the longest annual migration of any animal, breeding in the Arctic and spending the austral summer near Antarctica.
The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a small seabird known for making the longest annual migration of any animal, breeding in the Arctic and spending the austral summer near Antarctica. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Description
The Arctic tern is a small, slender tern with narrow, angular wings, a deeply forked tail, and a pointed red bill. Breeding adults have a black cap, while the body is mostly gray and white.
Migration
This species is famous for the longest migration of any animal, traveling from Arctic breeding areas to Antarctic waters and back each year. Individual routes can total tens of thousands of miles annually.
Habitat and range
Arctic terns breed in Arctic and subarctic regions and spend much of the year over open ocean, reaching Antarctic waters during the southern summer. They are associated with coasts, islands, beaches, and other treeless areas near marine environments.
Behaviour and diet
Arctic terns are social birds that nest in colonies and can be aggressive in defending their nests and chicks. They feed mainly on small fish and marine or coastal invertebrates.
Conservation status
The species is listed as Least Concern globally. Some regional sources report local population declines or stricter conservation attention in parts of its range.
Key facts
- Arctic terns are best known for their exceptionally long migration between the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
- They are slender, gray-and-white seabirds with angular wings, a black cap in breeding plumage, a red bill, and short red legs.
- They nest in colonies, usually on the ground in coastal or other treeless open areas near the sea.
- Their diet includes small fish and invertebrates such as crustaceans, insects, worms, and mollusks.
- The species is found across a broad global range, especially along polar and subpolar coasts and oceans.
Arctic terns breed in parts of North America, including Canada’s Arctic and subarctic regions, making them a familiar species for Canadian readers interested in northern wildlife and seabird migration.[5][6]
Frequently asked questions
What is the Arctic tern known for?
What is the Arctic tern’s scientific name?
What does an Arctic tern look like?
Where does the Arctic tern live?
What does the Arctic tern eat?
Is the Arctic tern endangered?
References
- National Geographic — Supports: Scientific name, size, weight, diet, global migration claim, and Least Concern status.
- Ocean Conservancy — Supports: Habitat, range, lifespan, and diet.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology (All About Birds) — Supports: Identification, migration, breeding plumage, and social nesting behaviour.
- Oceanwide Expeditions — Supports: Size range, wingspan, weight, diet, speed, lifespan, and estimated population trend.
- Wikipedia — Supports: Circumpolar breeding distribution in Europe, Asia, and North America.
- The Wildlife Trusts — Supports: Regional UK status, nesting behaviour, appearance, and migration distance estimates.
- National Wildlife Federation — Supports: General size and wingspan range.
- Arctic and North Atlantic region species information source (Npolar) — Supports: Physical description of bill, legs, back, belly, and cap.