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.
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Song & Call Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
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.
Saunders's Tern
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Geographic Range & Migration
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
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.
Saunders's Tern
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Conservation Status Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
보전 상태
Least Concern
Arctic Tern
Least Concern
Saunders's Tern
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
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
Saunders's Tern
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
About Each Bird (Descriptions)
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Saunders's Tern, 22–24 cm, is a small coastal tern of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Indian Ocean coasts. Very similar to Little Tern; separated by darker outer primaries and slightly smaller size. Piscivore; hovers and dives in shallow coastal waters and tidal mudflats.
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Related Comparisons
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
More Birds in Family
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}