Arctic Tern vs Belcher's Gull
Sterna paradisaea compared with Larus belcheri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | Belcher's Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Larus belcheri |
| 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) | 73.0 cm (28.7 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 642.5 g (22.66 oz) |
| Diet | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-3 |
| 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.
Belcher's 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.
Belcher's Gull
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
Belcher's 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
Belcher's 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.
Belcher's Gull
Belcher's Gull, 49–52 cm, is endemic to the Humboldt Current coast of Peru and northern Chile. Black mantle, white body, yellow bill with red and black band. Piscivore and scavenger; closely associated with fishing ports and anchovy-rich upwelling waters. Resident along its narrow coastal range.