Arctic Tern vs Barn Swallow
Sterna paradisaea مقارنةً بـ Hirundo rustica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| السمة | Arctic Tern | Barn Swallow |
|---|---|---|
| الاسم العلمي | Sterna paradisaea | Hirundo rustica |
| الرتبة | Charadriiformes | Passeriformes |
| الفصيلة | Laridae | Hirundinidae |
| حالة الحفاظ | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| الطول | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 19,0 cm (7.5 in) |
| طول الجناح | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) | 33,0 cm (13.0 in) |
| الوزن | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 19,0 g (0.67 oz) |
| النظام الغذائي | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … |
| عدد البيض في الوضع | 2-3 | 2-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Arctic Tern
Breeds on coastal and tundra habitats. Spends most of its life at sea over the open ocean. Nests in colonies on beaches and rocky shores.
Barn Swallow
Open farmland, meadows, and areas near water. Nests almost exclusively in human-made structures such as barns, bridges, and eaves.
Song & Call Comparison
Arctic Tern
A sharp, grating 'kree-yah' alarm call. Also gives 'kik-kik-kik' near the nest. Highly aggressive vocally during the Arctic breeding season. Calls are harsh and insistent.
Barn Swallow
A rapid, twittering song: a long stream of 'vit-vit-vit' and rolling chirps. Also gives a sharp 'vit' flight call. Song can last many minutes without pause. Musical and liquid.
Geographic Range & Migration
Arctic Tern
Breeds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Migrates to the Antarctic, experiencing two summers per year. Found on every ocean.
Barn Swallow
Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.
حالة الحفاظ
Arctic Tern
Barn Swallow
How to Tell Them Apart
Arctic Tern
Pale grey upperparts, white underparts with a black cap. Blood-red bill and short red legs. Deeply forked tail streamers. Winter adults lose the full black cap.
Slender, pointed, bright red bill
Barn Swallow
Metallic blue-black upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and pale buff to rufous underparts. Deeply forked tail with elongated outer streamers.
Short, wide, flat black bill adapted for catching insects in flight
About These Birds
Arctic Tern
The Arctic tern holds the record for the longest known migration of any animal, traveling roughly 70,000 km annually from Arctic to Antarctic and back. Over its 30-year lifespan, it may fly the equivalent of three round trips to the Moon. This remarkable bird experiences more daylight than any other creature on Earth.
Barn Swallow
The barn swallow is the most widespread swallow species in the world and has one of the longest migrations of any passerine. Its arrival signals spring across the Northern Hemisphere, inspiring cultural references from ancient Greece to modern poetry. Barn swallows have become almost entirely dependent on human structures for nesting.