Arctic Tern vs Barn Swallow
Sterna paradisaea 对比 Hirundo rustica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 属性 | Arctic Tern | Barn Swallow |
|---|---|---|
| 学名 | Sterna paradisaea | Hirundo rustica |
| 目 | Charadriiformes | Passeriformes |
| 科 | Laridae | Hirundinidae |
| 保护状况 | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| 体长 | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | 19.0 cm (7.5 in) |
| 翼展 | 80.0 cm (31.5 in) | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| 体重 | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 19.0 g (0.67 oz) |
| 食性 | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … |
| 产卵数 | 2-3 | 2-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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.
Barn Swallow
Open farmland, meadows, and areas near water. Nests almost exclusively in human-made structures such as barns, bridges, and eaves.
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.
Barn Swallow
A rapid, twittering song: a long stream of 'vit-vit-vit' and rolling chirps. Also gives a sharp 'vit' flight call. Song can last many minutes without pause. Musical and liquid.
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.
Barn Swallow
Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.
保护状况
Arctic Tern
Barn Swallow
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
Barn Swallow
Metallic blue-black upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and pale buff to rufous underparts. Deeply forked tail with elongated outer streamers.
Short, wide, flat black bill adapted for catching insects in flight
About These Birds
Arctic Tern
北极燕鸥进行所有动物中最长的迁徙，每年从北极繁殖地飞往南极越冬地，往返距离超过70,000公里。体型纤细，翼展约80厘米，全身主要为白色，具黑色头冠和红色喙。无危；繁殖于北极和亚北极海岸及岛屿，全球种群约200万只。
Barn Swallow
The barn swallow is the most widespread swallow species in the world and has one of the longest migrations of any passerine. Its arrival signals spring across the Northern Hemisphere, inspiring cultural references from ancient Greece to modern poetry. Barn swallows have become almost entirely dependent on human structures for nesting.