Arctic Tern

Migrating from Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic and back, the Arctic Tern experiences two summers each year and ranges across every ocean. Pale grey above and white below with a black cap, blood-red bill, and short red legs, it has deeply forked tail streamers that trail in flight. It catches small fish and crustaceans by plunge-diving, hovering briefly before dropping. Breeding in colonies on coastal and tundra ground, it lays two to three eggs in a simple scrape, incubated for 22 to 27 days, with young fledging at 21 to 24 days. Fiercely defensive at the nest, it gives sharp, grating alarm calls to drive off intruders. The species is classified as Least Concern.