Arctic Tern vs Emperor Penguin

Sterna paradisaea مقارنةً بـ Aptenodytes forsteri

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Arctic Tern Emperor Penguin
الاسم العلمي Sterna paradisaea Aptenodytes forsteri
الرتبة Charadriiformes Sphenisciformes
الفصيلة Laridae Spheniscidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Near Threatened
الطول 34,0 cm (13.4 in) 115,0 cm (45.3 in)
طول الجناح 80,0 cm (31.5 in) 76,0 cm (29.9 in)
الوزن 110,0 g (3.88 oz) 30000,0 g (1058.22 oz)
النظام الغذائي Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. Primarily Antarctic silverfish, krill, and squid. The deepest-diving bird, reaching depths over 500 meters and …
عدد البيض في الوضع 2-3 1
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Arctic Tern 34,0 cm
Emperor Penguin 115,0 cm
طول الجناح
Arctic Tern 80,0 cm
Emperor Penguin 76,0 cm
الوزن
Arctic Tern 110,0 g
Emperor Penguin 30000,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Arctic Tern only

Emperor Penguin only

بلا

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.

Emperor Penguin

Antarctic pack ice and surrounding Southern Ocean. The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter.

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Song & Call Comparison

Arctic Tern

الغناء

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.

Emperor Penguin

الغناء

Loud, resonant trumpeting calls used for individual recognition in dense colonies. Each bird's call is unique in frequency. Also gives softer contact 'braying' notes.

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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.

Emperor Penguin

Antarctic continent and surrounding sea ice. Breeding colonies are found along the entire Antarctic coastline.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Arctic Tern

Near Threatened

Emperor Penguin

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How to Tell Them Apart

Arctic Tern

الريش

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.

المنقار

Slender, pointed, bright red bill

Emperor Penguin

الريش

Black head, chin, and dorsal side with white belly. Bright yellow-orange ear patches fade to pale yellow on the upper breast.

المنقار

Long, slightly decurved bill — black with orange or pink mandible stripe

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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.

Emperor Penguin

The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all penguin species. They breed in the harshest conditions on Earth, enduring Antarctic winter temperatures of -60 C and wind speeds of 200 km/h. Males incubate the single egg on their feet under a brood pouch for about 65 days while fasting.

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