Arctic Tern vs Grey Gull
Sterna paradisaea compared with Larus modestus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | Grey Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Larus modestus |
| 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) | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 325.0 g (11.46 oz) |
| Diet | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-4 |
| 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.
Grey 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.
Grey Gull
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
Grey 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
Grey 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.
Grey Gull
Grey Gull, 45–48 cm, breeds in the Atacama Desert of Chile, one of the driest places on earth, nesting far from the coast. Uniform grey body, white head in breeding plumage. Each night adults fly 70–100 km to Humboldt Current coast to feed on fish and invertebrates before returning to chicks.