Arctic Tern vs White-cheeked Tern

Sterna paradisaea comparé à Sterna repressa

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Arctic Tern White-cheeked Tern
Nom scientifique Sterna paradisaea Sterna repressa
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) 48,3 cm (19.0 in)
Poids 110,0 g (3.88 oz) 118,75 g (4.19 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
White-cheeked Tern
Envergure
Arctic Tern 80,0 cm
White-cheeked Tern 48,3 cm
Poids
Arctic Tern 110,0 g
White-cheeked Tern 118,75 g

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Arctic Tern only

White-cheeked Tern 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.

White-cheeked Tern

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.

White-cheeked Tern

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Arctic Tern

Least Concern

White-cheeked Tern

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

White-cheeked Tern

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.

White-cheeked Tern

White-cheeked Tern, 32–34 cm, breeds around the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Indian Ocean coasts from East Africa to Pakistan. Grey above and below in breeding plumage, white cheek patch below the black cap. Piscivore; plunge-dives in coastal waters. Some movement to winter quarters in East African coasts.

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