African Penguin vs Arctic Tern
Spheniscus demersus comparé à Sterna paradisaea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | African Penguin | Arctic Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Spheniscus demersus | Sterna paradisaea |
| Ordre | Sphenisciformes | Charadriiformes |
| Famille | Spheniscidae | Laridae |
| Statut de conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 60,0 cm (23.6 in) | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) |
| Envergure | 42,0 cm (16.5 in) | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) |
| Poids | 3100,0 g (109.35 oz) | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small schooling fish, especially sardines and anchovies. Forages within 40 km of the colony, diving … | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. |
| Taille de la couvée | 2 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
African Penguin
Rocky coastlines and offshore islands of southern Africa. Nests in burrows, under boulders, or in surface scrapes.
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
African Penguin
A loud, donkey-like braying 'waaah-waaah' — hence its nickname 'jackass penguin'. Also gives softer grunts and contact calls at the colony. Highly vocal on breeding beaches.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Penguin
Coastal southwestern Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The only penguin species breeding in Africa.
Arctic Tern
Breeds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Migrates to the Antarctic, experiencing two summers per year. Found on every ocean.
Statut de conservation
African Penguin
Arctic Tern
How to Tell Them Apart
African Penguin
Black upperparts and white underparts with a distinctive black horseshoe-shaped band across the breast. Pink patches of bare skin above the eyes help with thermoregulation.
Sturdy, pointed, black bill with a grey band near the tip
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
About These Birds
African Penguin
The African penguin is the only penguin species native to the African continent, also called the jackass penguin for its donkey-like braying call. Their population has plummeted over 95% since pre-industrial times due to egg collection, oil spills, and competition with commercial fisheries for sardine and anchovy stocks.
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.