Arctic Tern vs Brown-headed Gull
Sterna paradisaea comparé à Larus brunnicephalus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Arctic Tern | Brown-headed Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Sterna paradisaea | Larus brunnicephalus |
| Ordre | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Famille | Laridae | Laridae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| Envergure | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) | 66,8 cm (26.3 in) |
| Poids | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 584,0 g (20.60 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-3 | 1-4 |
| 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.
Brown-headed Gull
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.
Brown-headed Gull
Statut de conservation
Arctic Tern
Brown-headed Gull
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
Brown-headed Gull
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.
Brown-headed Gull
Brown-headed Gull, 41–46 cm, breeds at high-altitude Tibetan lakes and Central Asian wetlands, wintering on coasts from India to Southeast Asia. Brown hood in breeding plumage; white wing mirrors. Piscivore and invertivore; follows fishing activity in coastal bays.