Arctic Tern vs Inca Tern
Sterna paradisaea compared with Larosterna inca
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | Inca Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Larosterna inca |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 80.0 cm (31.5 in) | 55.4 cm (21.8 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 199.5 g (7.04 oz) |
| Diet | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-2 |
| 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.
Inca 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.
Inca Tern
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
Inca 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
Inca 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.
Inca Tern
Inca Tern, 39–42 cm, is unmistakable — dark slate grey with white facial plumes curling from the bill like a Victorian moustache. Restricted to the Humboldt Current from Peru to Chile. Piscivore; snatches anchovies and other prey at the surface. Near Threatened; population tied to anchovy availability.