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
노래
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.
Common Gull-billed 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.
Common Gull-billed Tern
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Conservation Status Comparison
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보전 상태
Least Concern
Arctic Tern
Least Concern
Common Gull-billed Tern
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Arctic Tern
깃털
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.
부리
Slender, pointed, bright red bill
Common Gull-billed Tern
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Common Gull-billed Tern, 35–38 cm, wingspan 76–86 cm, has a broad global range across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. Stout black bill adapted for catching crabs, insects, and small vertebrates — atypically terrestrial for a tern. Summers in marshes and steppes; winters on tropical coasts.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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