Arctic Tern vs Roseate Tern
Sterna paradisaea compared with Sterna dougallii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | Roseate Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Sterna dougallii |
| 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) | 44.8 cm (17.6 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 114.33333333333333 g (4.03 oz) |
| Diet | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-2 |
| 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.
Roseate Tern
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.
Roseate Tern
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
Roseate Tern
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
Roseate Tern
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.
Roseate Tern
Roseate Tern, 33–36 cm, is a globally distributed but declining species, breeding on both sides of the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Pacific. Nearly white with a rosy flush to breast in spring, very long tail streamers, and mostly black bill. Plunge-dives for small fish. Endangered in parts of range.