Arctic Tern vs European Herring Gull
Sterna paradisaea compared with Larus argentatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | European Herring Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Larus argentatus |
| 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) | 86.2 cm (33.9 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 1110.0 g (39.15 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
Shared Habitats
Arctic Tern only
European Herring Gull only
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.
European Herring 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.
European Herring Gull
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
European Herring 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
European Herring 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.
European Herring Gull
European Herring Gull, 55–67 cm, wingspan 125–155 cm, is the archetypal large gull of Atlantic Europe. Silver-grey mantle, white body, yellow bill with red spot, pink legs. Omnivore; scavenges in cities and harbours; drops molluscs to crack shells. Partially migratory; declining in recent decades.