Arctic Tern vs Fairy Tern
Sterna paradisaea comparé à Sternula nereis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Arctic Tern | Fairy Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Sterna paradisaea | Sternula nereis |
| 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) | 35,6 cm (14.0 in) |
| Poids | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 68,5 g (2.42 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-3 | 1-2 |
| 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.
Fairy 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.
Fairy Tern
Statut de conservation
Arctic Tern
Fairy 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
Fairy 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.
Fairy Tern
Fairy Tern, 22–25 cm, breeds in southern Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia on sandy beaches. White and pale grey with an orange-yellow bill; delicate and buoyant in flight. Piscivore; hovers and plunge-dives in shallow coastal and estuarine waters. Vulnerable due to beach disturbance.