Arctic Tern vs California Gull
Sterna paradisaea مقارنةً بـ Larus californicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| السمة | Arctic Tern | California Gull |
|---|---|---|
| الاسم العلمي | Sterna paradisaea | Larus californicus |
| الرتبة | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| الفصيلة | Laridae | Laridae |
| حالة الحفاظ | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| الطول | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| طول الجناح | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) | 75,4 cm (29.7 in) |
| الوزن | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 717,5 g (25.31 oz) |
| النظام الغذائي | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| عدد البيض في الوضع | 2-3 | 2-4 |
| 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.
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.
California Gull
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.
California Gull
حالة الحفاظ
Arctic Tern
California Gull
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
California Gull
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.
California Gull
California Gull, 46–55 cm, breeds at inland lakes of western North America and winters on the Pacific coast. Yellow bill with red and black spot, greenish-yellow legs. Omnivore; famous for saving Utah crickets crops in 1848 — commemorated as Utah's state bird. Strongly migratory.