Arctic Tern vs Little Tern
Sterna paradisaea comparé à Sternula albifrons
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Arctic Tern | Little Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Sterna paradisaea | Sternula albifrons |
| 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) | 33,9 cm (13.3 in) |
| Poids | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 55,0 g (1.94 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-3 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Arctic Tern only
Aucun(e)
Little 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
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.
Little 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.
Little Tern
Statut de conservation
Arctic Tern
Little Tern
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
Little 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.
Little Tern
Little Tern is one of the world's smallest terns, 21–25 cm, breeding along coastlines and rivers across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. White below, grey above, with a yellow bill tipped black and a white forehead patch. Hovers and plunge-dives for small fish. Migratory; winters in tropical coasts.