Arctic Tern vs Heermann's Gull
Sterna paradisaea comparé à Larus heermanni
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Arctic Tern | Heermann's Gull |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Sterna paradisaea | Larus heermanni |
| Ordre | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Famille | Laridae | Laridae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Longueur | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| Envergure | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) | 67,2 cm (26.5 in) |
| Poids | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 448,26666666666665 g (15.81 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-3 | 1-2 |
| 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.
Heermann's 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.
Heermann's Gull
Statut de conservation
Arctic Tern
Heermann's 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
Heermann's 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.
Heermann's Gull
Heermann's Gull, 46–51 cm, is distinctive — dark grey body, white head (breeding), red bill. Breeds almost entirely on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California, then disperses north along the Pacific coast to British Columbia. Kleptoparasite; steals fish from Brown Pelicans. Near Threatened; range highly restricted.