Arctic Tern vs Red-legged Kittiwake
Sterna paradisaea compared with Rissa brevirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | Red-legged Kittiwake |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Rissa brevirostris |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 80.0 cm (31.5 in) | 60.0 cm (23.6 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 401.6666666666667 g (14.17 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.
Red-legged Kittiwake
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.
Red-legged Kittiwake
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
Red-legged Kittiwake
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
Red-legged Kittiwake
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.
Red-legged Kittiwake
Red-legged Kittiwake, 35–39 cm, has a very restricted range on only four Aleutian and Pribilof Island colonies, with a world population under 200,000. Resembles Black-legged Kittiwake but with bright red legs, darker upperparts, and white underwing tips. Pelagic piscivore; Vulnerable and declining.