Arctic Tern vs Elegant Tern
Sterna paradisaea compared with Thalasseus elegans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Tern | Elegant Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sterna paradisaea | Thalasseus elegans |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae | Laridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 80.0 cm (31.5 in) | 59.3 cm (23.3 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 236.16666666666666 g (8.33 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.
Elegant 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.
Elegant Tern
Conservation Status
Arctic Tern
Elegant 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
Elegant 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.
Elegant Tern
Elegant Tern, 39–43 cm, breeds in a few large colonies on islands off Baja California and winters along Pacific coasts of South America. Long, drooping orange bill, shaggy black crest. Piscivore; dependent on Northern Anchovy and Pacific Sardine. Near Threatened; highly colonial breeder.