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.
Black-legged Kittiwake
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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-legged Kittiwake
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Conservation Status Comparison
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보전 상태
Least Concern
Arctic Tern
Vulnerable
Black-legged Kittiwake
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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
Black-legged Kittiwake
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Black-legged Kittiwake, 38–40 cm, wingspan 91–105 cm, is the most abundant gull globally, with millions breeding on cliff ledges across the North Atlantic and Pacific. White body, grey mantle, solid black wing tips, yellow bill, black legs. Pelagic piscivore outside breeding. Vulnerable; declining.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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