Arctic Tern vs White-winged Tern
Sterna paradisaea compared with Chlidonias leucopterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | White-winged Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Chlidonias leucopterus |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 80.0 cm (31.5 in) | 41.6 cm (16.4 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 60.5 g (2.13 oz) |
| Diet | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 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
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.
White-winged Tern
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.
White-winged Tern
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
White-winged Tern
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
White-winged Tern
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.
White-winged Tern
White-winged Tern, 20–23 cm, breeds in wetlands from Eastern Europe to Central Asia and winters in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Australia. Breeding male: jet-black body contrasting with white wings. Insectivore; dips over marshes and rice paddies. Long-distance migrant.