Charrán Ártico

Charrán Ártico

Sterna paradisaea

Least Concern
Longitud
34,0 cm
Envergadura
80,0 cm
Peso
110,0 g
Familia
Laridae
Orden
Charadriiformes

Migrating from Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic and back, the Arctic Tern experiences two summers each year and ranges across every ocean. Pale grey above and white below with a black cap, blood-red bill, and short red legs, it has deeply forked tail streamers that trail in flight. It catches small fish and crustaceans by plunge-diving, hovering briefly before dropping. Breeding in colonies on coastal and tundra ground, it lays two to three eggs in a simple scrape, incubated for 22 to 27 days, with young fledging at 21 to 24 days. Fiercely defensive at the nest, it gives sharp, grating alarm calls to drive off intruders. The species is classified as Least Concern.

Acerca de

El charrán ártico realiza la migración más larga de todos los animales, viajando cada año entre sus zonas de reproducción árticas y sus zonas de invernada antárticas, con una ida y vuelta de más de 70.000 km. Gracias a esta ruta, experimenta más horas de luz solar al año que cualquier otra criatura. Pequeño y ágil, pesa unos 100 g y se caracteriza por su pico y patas de color rojo sangre. Defiende agresivamente sus colonias de cría, llegando a atacar a humanos que se acercan demasiado.

Physical Description

Measurement Value Imperial
Body Length 34,0 cm 13.4 in
Envergadura 80,0 cm 31.5 in
Peso 110,0 g 3.88 oz

Identificación

Plumaje

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.

Pico

Slender, pointed, bright red bill

Habitat & Range

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.

Distribución geográfica

Breeds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Migrates to the Antarctic, experiencing two summers per year. Found on every ocean.

Diet & Feeding

Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving.

Estado de conservación

Least Concern
IUCN Red List

Comportamiento y reproducción

Nidificación

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 22-27 days. Fledging: 21-24 days.

Tamaño de la puesta

2-3

Sonido

Canto

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.

Taxonomía

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Orden Charadriiformes (Limícolas y Gaviotas)
Familia Laridae (Gaviotas y Charranes)
Genus Sterna
Especies Sterna paradisaea

Names in Other Languages

Language Name
German Küstenseeschwalbe
Spanish Charrán Ártico

Distribution

Charrán Ártico has been recorded in 7 countries.

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Presente Not recorded
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countries highlighted

External Databases

Preguntas frecuentes

What does the Charrán Ártico eat?
Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving.
Where does the Charrán Ártico live?
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.
Is the Charrán Ártico endangered?
The Charrán Ártico has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the Charrán Ártico nest?
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 22-27 days. Fledging: 21-24 days.
What does the Charrán Ártico sound like?
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.
How big is the Charrán Ártico?
The Charrán Ártico has a body length of 34.0 cm, wingspan of 80.0 cm, weight of 110.0 g.
What order and family does the Charrán Ártico belong to?
The Charrán Ártico (Sterna paradisaea) belongs to the order Charadriiformes and the family Laridae.

Similar Birds

Other species in the Laridae family

Comparar

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