Arctic Tern vs Yellow-footed Gull
Sterna paradisaea compared with Larus livens
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | Yellow-footed Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Larus livens |
| 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) | 80.7 cm (31.8 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 1295.0 g (45.68 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.
Yellow-footed 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.
Yellow-footed Gull
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
Yellow-footed 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
Yellow-footed 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.
Yellow-footed Gull
Yellow-footed Gull, 53–58 cm, has a very restricted range — endemic to the Gulf of California with post-breeding dispersal to Salton Sea. Yellow feet (unique among large western gulls), yellow bill with red spot. Piscivore and scavenger; forages on rocky shores. Resident; does not undertake long migrations.