Field Guide to Birds of North America
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern Variations
Related Birds
General
Arctic Tern: Medium-sized, slim tern with gray upperparts, black cap, white rump and throat, and pale gray underparts. Tail is deeply forked and white with dark edges on outer feathers. Bill is dark red, rarely tipped with black. Legs and feet are red. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has dark red or black bill, black cap restricted to back of head, white forehead and underparts, and black legs and feet. Juvenile has a white forehead in front of a partial black cap, black bill, red legs and feet, and white and gray mottled upperparts.
Range and Habitat
Arctic Tern: Breeds on arctic tundra from Aleutians, northern Alaska and across northern Canada and south to northern British Columbia, northern Manitoba, Quebec, and Massachusetts. Spends winters in Antarctica. Makes the furthest migration of all birds: travel up to 22,000 miles on each round trip. Arctic Terns see more daylight than any other living creature since they are in both Southern and Northern Hemispheres during periods of longest days. Found along seashores, on rocky or grass-covered coasts and islands, and on tundra in summer.
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"tr-tee-ar"
Interesting Facts
- During courtship, the male Arctic Tern will catch a small fish and fly as low as possible over a potential mate. If she notices him, she will join him in flight and they will mate soon after.
- Because of their extremely long migrations, they hardly ever land. They spend most of their lives in the air.
- Young terns migrate south with their parents but then remain in the Southern Hemisphere until they are two years old at which time they return to their birthplaces.
- A group of terns are collectively known as a "ternery" or a "U" of terns.
Author
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Family
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Species
Sterna paradisaea
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Length14 - 17
Inches
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Wingspan31
Inches
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Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern: Medium, slim tern with gray upperparts, black cap, white rump and throat, and pale gray underparts. Tail is deeply forked and white with dark edges on outer feathers. Bill is dark red, rarely tipped with black. Legs and feet are red. Bouyant graceful flight with steady wing beats.
● Song: "tr-tee-ar"
● Foraging & Feeding: Arctic Tern: Diet consists mainly of small fish and invertebrates such as insects, shrimp, and krill; forages by swooping down and catching prey at the water surface.
● Breeding & nesting: Arctic Tern: One to three buff to pale olive eggs with black and brown blotches are laid on bare rocks, often lined with nothing more than a few pebbles. Egg color and markings are excellent camouflage among rocks. Both parents incubate eggs for about 24 days.
● Similar species: Arctic Tern: Common Tern has long red bill tipped with black, longer legs, and shorter tail.
Flight Pattern
Hovers, dips for prey., Buoyant graceful flight with nearly constant wing beats.
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BreedingMonogamous, Colonial, Pairs
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PopulationCommon to fairly common
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MigrationMigratory
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Weight3.8
Ounces
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