Arctic Tern vs Wandering Albatross
Sterna paradisaea comparé à Diomedea exulans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Arctic Tern | Wandering Albatross |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Sterna paradisaea | Diomedea exulans |
| Ordre | Charadriiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Famille | Laridae | Diomedeidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Longueur | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 117,0 cm (46.1 in) |
| Envergure | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) | 320,0 cm (126.0 in) |
| Poids | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 9000,0 g (317.47 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | Squid, fish, and crustaceans caught from the ocean surface, often at night. Follows fishing vessels … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-3 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Arctic Tern only
Wandering Albatross 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.
Wandering Albatross
Open ocean of the Southern Hemisphere. Breeds on remote sub-Antarctic islands. Spends years at sea between breeding attempts.
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.
Wandering Albatross
At nesting colonies emits a loud braying 'waaah' and guttural grunts. Silent at sea for most of the year. Courtship involves ritualized mutual bill-clapping and moaning calls.
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.
Wandering Albatross
Southern Ocean circumpolar, breeding on South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, and other sub-Antarctic islands.
Statut de conservation
Arctic Tern
Wandering Albatross
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
Wandering Albatross
Adults are mostly white with black trailing edges to the wings. Juveniles are chocolate brown, whitening progressively over 5-10 years. Pink bill and pale feet.
Very large pink bill with a hooked tip and visible tubular nostrils
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.
Wandering Albatross
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, reaching up to 3.5 meters. These oceanic nomads can circumnavigate the globe, covering over 120,000 km per year using dynamic soaring with minimal wing flapping. Pairs mate for life and may live over 60 years.