Arctic Tern vs Snowy Owl
Sterna paradisaea 对比 Bubo scandiacus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 属性 | Arctic Tern | Snowy Owl |
|---|---|---|
| 学名 | Sterna paradisaea | Bubo scandiacus |
| 目 | Charadriiformes | Strigiformes |
| 科 | Laridae | Strigidae |
| 保护状况 | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| 体长 | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | 63.0 cm (24.8 in) |
| 翼展 | 80.0 cm (31.5 in) | 145.0 cm (57.1 in) |
| 体重 | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 2100.0 g (74.08 oz) |
| 食性 | Small fish and crustaceans caught by plunge-diving from the air. Hovers briefly before diving. | Primarily lemmings on the breeding grounds, where a pair may consume over 1,500 per year. … |
| 产卵数 | 2-3 | 3-14 |
| 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.
Snowy Owl
Arctic tundra for breeding. Winters in open habitats resembling tundra, including prairies, airports, shorelines, and agricultural fields.
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.
Snowy Owl
Male gives a deep booming hoot 'hooooo' and a rising 'hoo-hoo' series. Also barks sharply when alarmed. Quieter than many owls; silent during long Arctic winter hunts.
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.
Snowy Owl
Circumpolar Arctic for breeding. Irruptive winter movements bring birds south to the northern United States, Europe, and Asia.
保护状况
Arctic Tern
Snowy Owl
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
Snowy Owl
Adult males are almost entirely white. Females and immatures have dark brown barring and spotting. Yellow eyes and fully feathered feet.
Dark hooked bill mostly hidden by dense facial feathering
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。
Snowy Owl
The snowy owl is the heaviest North American owl and one of the most charismatic Arctic birds. Unlike most owls, it is largely diurnal, necessitated by the continuous daylight of Arctic summers. Snowy owl irruptions — periodic mass southward movements — are tied to lemming population cycles.