Arctic Tern vs European Bee-eater
Sterna paradisaea comparado com Merops apiaster
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Arctic Tern | European Bee-eater |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Sterna paradisaea | Merops apiaster |
| Ordem | Charadriiformes | Coraciiformes |
| Família | Laridae | Meropidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 28,0 cm (11.0 in) |
| Envergadura | 80,0 cm (31.5 in) | 38,0 cm (15.0 in) |
| Peso | 110,0 g (3.88 oz) | 56,0 g (1.98 oz) |
| Dieta | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | Primarily bees, wasps, and hornets caught in flight. Removes stingers by beating prey against a … |
| Tamanho da postura | 2-3 | 4-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partilhados
Arctic Tern only
European Bee-eater only
Nenhum
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.
European Bee-eater
Open country with scattered trees, sandy banks, and river cliffs for nesting. Breeds in colonies in tunnels dug into earth banks.
Song & Call Comparison
Arctic Tern
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.
European Bee-eater
A liquid, melodic 'pruik-pruik' or rolling 'prruup-pruup' in flight. Flocks give a distinctive far-carrying bubbling call audible before birds are seen. Considered a pleasant sound.
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.
European Bee-eater
Southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Winters in tropical Africa. A long-distance migrant.
Estado de conservação
Arctic Tern
European Bee-eater
How to Tell Them Apart
Arctic Tern
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.
Slender, pointed, bright red bill
European Bee-eater
Richly colored with a chestnut-brown crown and back, golden-yellow scapulars, turquoise-blue underparts, and a black eye stripe. Central tail feathers are elongated.
Long, slender, slightly decurved black bill
About These Birds
Arctic Tern
The Arctic tern holds the record for the longest known migration of any animal, traveling roughly 70,000 km annually from Arctic to Antarctic and back. Over its 30-year lifespan, it may fly the equivalent of three round trips to the Moon. This remarkable bird experiences more daylight than any other creature on Earth.
European Bee-eater
The European bee-eater is one of the most colorful birds in Europe, displaying a rainbow palette of chestnut, gold, and turquoise. True to their name, bee-eaters specialize in catching venomous insects, skillfully removing the stinger before consumption. They nest in colonies, excavating tunnel burrows up to two meters into sandy banks.