Arctic Tern vs Red-legged Kittiwake

Sterna paradisaea comparé à Rissa brevirostris

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Arctic Tern Red-legged Kittiwake
Nom scientifique Sterna paradisaea Rissa brevirostris
Ordre Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Famille Laridae Laridae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Vulnerable
Longueur 34,0 cm (13.4 in)
Envergure 80,0 cm (31.5 in) 60,0 cm (23.6 in)
Poids 110,0 g (3.88 oz) 401,6666666666667 g (14.17 oz)
Régime alimentaire Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. --
Taille de la couvée 2-3 1-3
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Arctic Tern 34,0 cm
Red-legged Kittiwake
Envergure
Arctic Tern 80,0 cm
Red-legged Kittiwake 60,0 cm
Poids
Arctic Tern 110,0 g
Red-legged Kittiwake 401,6666666666667 g

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Arctic Tern only

Red-legged Kittiwake only

Aucun(e)

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

Chant

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.

Red-legged Kittiwake

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.

Red-legged Kittiwake

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Arctic Tern

Vulnerable

Red-legged Kittiwake

How to Tell Them Apart

Arctic Tern

Plumage

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.

Bec

Slender, pointed, bright red bill

Red-legged Kittiwake

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.

Red-legged Kittiwake

Red-legged Kittiwake, 35–39 cm, has a very restricted range on only four Aleutian and Pribilof Island colonies, with a world population under 200,000. Resembles Black-legged Kittiwake but with bright red legs, darker upperparts, and white underwing tips. Pelagic piscivore; Vulnerable and declining.

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