Arctic Tern vs Japanese White-eye

Sterna paradisaea 比較対象 Zosterops japonicus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

属性 Arctic Tern Japanese White-eye
学名 Sterna paradisaea Zosterops japonicus
Charadriiformes Passeriformes
Laridae Zosteropidae
保全状況 Least Concern Least Concern
体長 34.0 cm (13.4 in) 11.5 cm (4.5 in)
翼開長 80.0 cm (31.5 in) 17.0 cm (6.7 in)
体重 110.0 g (3.88 oz) 11.0 g (0.39 oz)
食性 Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. Insects, nectar, and fruit. Active gleaner that flits through foliage and visits flowers. Important pollinator …
一腹卵数 2-3 2-6
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Arctic Tern 34.0 cm
Japanese White-eye 11.5 cm
翼開長
Arctic Tern 80.0 cm
Japanese White-eye 17.0 cm
体重
Arctic Tern 110.0 g
Japanese White-eye 11.0 g
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Habitat Comparison

共通生息地

None

Arctic Tern only

Japanese White-eye only

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.

Japanese White-eye

Broadleaf evergreen forests, gardens, parks, and suburban areas. Highly adaptable and common in East Asian gardens.

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Song & Call Comparison

Arctic Tern

さえずり

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.

Japanese White-eye

さえずり

Sweet, high-pitched 'tsee-tsee-tsee' whistle and soft melodic warbling. Flocks produce a continuous tinkling chorus. Alarm is a sharper 'tset'. Song is gentle and rhythmic.

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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.

Japanese White-eye

East Asia including Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Introduced to Hawaii and other Pacific islands.

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保全状況

Least Concern

Arctic Tern

Least Concern

Japanese White-eye

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How to Tell Them Apart

Arctic Tern

羽毛

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.

くちばし

Slender, pointed, bright red bill

Japanese White-eye

羽毛

Olive-green upperparts with a bright white eye-ring. Yellow throat and undertail coverts. Greyish-white belly.

くちばし

Thin, pointed, slightly decurved dark bill

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About These Birds

Arctic Tern

キョクアジサシはあらゆる動物の中で最長の渡りを行い、毎年北極と南極を往復する約7万kmの旅をする。30年の寿命の中に、月への往復3回分に相当する飛翔距離を積み重ねる可能性がある。地球上でどの生物よりも多くの昼光を経験するこの驚異的な鳥は、太陽を追い続ける。

Japanese White-eye

The Japanese white-eye is a familiar garden bird across East Asia, beloved in Japan where it is called mejiro. These sociable birds form flocks outside the breeding season and are important pollinators of plum and cherry blossoms. Unfortunately, introduced populations in Hawaii have become invasive, competing with native honeycreepers.

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