Arctic Tern vs Indian Skimmer
Sterna paradisaea comparé à Rynchops albicollis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Arctic Tern | Indian Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Sterna paradisaea | Rynchops albicollis |
| Ordre | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Famille | Laridae | Laridae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Longueur | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| Envergure | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) | 74,4 cm (29.3 in) |
| Poids | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 164,0 g (5.78 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-3 | 2-5 |
| 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.
Indian Skimmer
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.
Indian Skimmer
Statut de conservation
Arctic Tern
Indian Skimmer
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
Indian Skimmer
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.
Indian Skimmer
Indian Skimmer: 38–43 cm, black-and-white skimmer with an orange-and-yellow bill and white collar. Resident on large sandy rivers of the Indian subcontinent. VU. Feeds by skimming river surface with protruding lower mandible to catch fish. Severely threatened by sand-mining, dam building, and human disturbance at nesting colonies.