Arctic Tern vs pygargue à tête blanche
Sterna paradisaea comparé à Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Arctic Tern | pygargue à tête blanche |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Sterna paradisaea | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Ordre | Charadriiformes | Accipitriformes |
| Famille | Laridae | Accipitridae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 79,0 cm (31.1 in) |
| Envergure | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) | 203,0 cm (79.9 in) |
| Poids | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 4300,0 g (151.68 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | Primarily fish, also waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Hunts by swooping down to snatch fish … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Arctic Tern only
Aucun(e)
pygargue à tête blanche only
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.
pygargue à tête blanche
Large bodies of open water including coasts, rivers, and lakes with abundant fish and old-growth trees for nesting.
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.
pygargue à tête blanche
High-pitched, chattering whistle: a rapid 'kleek-kik-ik-ik-ik'. Surprisingly weak and thin for such a large raptor. Also gives a lower 'kwit-kwit' call near the nest.
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.
pygargue à tête blanche
North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.
Statut de conservation
Arctic Tern
pygargue à tête blanche
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
pygargue à tête blanche
Adults have a dark brown body with a striking white head and tail. Juveniles are mottled brown and white, reaching full adult plumage at age five.
Large, hooked, bright yellow bill
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.
pygargue à tête blanche
The bald eagle is the national bird and symbol of the United States. Once endangered due to DDT pesticide use, it made a remarkable recovery and was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. These powerful raptors build the largest tree nests of any bird, some weighing over two tons.