Grey Noddy vs Arctic Tern
Anous albivittus compared with Sterna paradisaea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey Noddy | Arctic Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anous albivittus | Sterna paradisaea |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) |
| Wingspan | 40.4 cm (15.9 in) | 80.0 cm (31.5 in) |
| Weight | 67.0 g (2.36 oz) | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2-3 |
| 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
Grey Noddy
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Grey Noddy
Arctic Tern
Breeds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Migrates to the Antarctic, experiencing two summers per year. Found on every ocean.
Conservation Status
Grey Noddy
Arctic Tern
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey Noddy
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
About These Birds
Grey Noddy
Grey Noddy is a small tern-like seabird, 28–32 cm, found across the central and western Pacific on tropical oceanic islands. Pale grey overall with a white crown; nests colonially on ledges. Piscivore, plunge-dives for small fish near reef flats. Pelagic when not breeding.
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.