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.
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Song & Call Comparison
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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.
Black-bellied Tern
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Geographic Range & Migration
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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.
Black-bellied Tern
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Conservation Status Comparison
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保全状況
Least Concern
Arctic Tern
Endangered
Black-bellied Tern
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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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
Black-bellied Tern
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Black-bellied Tern, 32–34 cm, is an Endangered freshwater tern of the Indian subcontinent, breeding on large river sandbars from Pakistan to Myanmar. Black belly contrasts with grey upperparts in breeding plumage; orange bill. Plunge-dives for small fish. Severely threatened by river modification.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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