Arctic Tern vs Snowy-crowned Tern

Sterna paradisaea comparé à Sterna trudeaui

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Arctic Tern Snowy-crowned Tern
Nom scientifique Sterna paradisaea Sterna trudeaui
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) 51,2 cm (20.2 in)
Poids 110,0 g (3.88 oz) 149,75 g (5.28 oz)
Régime alimentaire Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. --
Taille de la couvée 2-3 2-4
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Arctic Tern 34,0 cm
Snowy-crowned Tern
Envergure
Arctic Tern 80,0 cm
Snowy-crowned Tern 51,2 cm
Poids
Arctic Tern 110,0 g
Snowy-crowned Tern 149,75 g

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Arctic Tern only

Snowy-crowned 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.

Snowy-crowned 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.

Snowy-crowned Tern

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Arctic Tern

Least Concern

Snowy-crowned 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

Snowy-crowned 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.

Snowy-crowned Tern

Snowy-crowned Tern, 33–35 cm, breeds along the Atlantic coasts of Argentina and Uruguay, wintering north to southern Brazil. White crown with black post-ocular mark (unlike a full black cap), yellow-tipped red bill. Coastal and estuarine piscivore; plunge-dives for small fish.

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