Arctic tern
Arctic tern: the animal with the longest known migration.
The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a medium-sized seabird in the family Laridae, known for its circumpolar breeding distribution across Arctic and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It is famous for undertaking the longest migrations of any animal, traveling from northern breeding grounds to the Antarctic coast and back each year, seeing two summers annually.
- Scientific name
- Sterna paradisaea
- Family
- Laridae
- Length
- 33–36 cm (13–14 in)
- Wingspan
- 76–85 cm (30–33 in)
- Lifespan
- Up to 31 years
- Known for
- Longest migration in the animal kingdom
Lore & Background
The Arctic tern breeds in coastal regions of the cooler temperate parts of North America and Eurasia during the northern summer, and spends the southern summer at sea near the Antarctic ice. The species is medium-sized, with grey and white plumage, a blood-red beak and feet during breeding, and a deeply forked tail. It is long-lived, with many reaching fifteen to thirty years, and a record of 31 years. Arctic terns eat mainly fish and small marine invertebrates, and are abundant, with an estimated two million individuals. They are fiercely defensive of their nests and young, attacking humans and large predators. Breeding begins around the third or fourth year, and pairs often mate for life, returning to the same colony. Courtship involves high flights and fish offerings. The nest is a depression in the ground, and both sexes incubate the one to three eggs. The species has a variety of calls, including an alarm call and an advertising call, and its sound has been described as resembling 'Backstreet Boys'.
Reader's Guide
The Arctic tern's significance lies in its extraordinary migratory behavior, which represents the longest known annual migration in the animal kingdom. This migration allows the bird to experience more daylight than any other creature, as it moves between Arctic summers and Antarctic summers. The species is also notable for its longevity, with individuals living up to 31 years, and for its aggressive defense of nesting sites. Its circumpolar breeding distribution and abundance—estimated at two million individuals—make it a widespread and well-studied example of avian migration. However, exploitation in the past has reduced numbers in the southern reaches of its range. The Arctic tern's closest relatives are South Polar species, and its immature plumages were once mistakenly described as separate species. Its calls, including a distinctive sound likened to 'Backstreet Boys', and its shared common names with the common tern reflect its close relationship with other terns.
Did You Know?
- The Arctic tern sees two summers each year due to its migration between Arctic and Antarctic regions.
- The species makes a sound that has been described as resembling 'Backstreet Boys'.
- Arctic terns can live up to 31 years, and during their lifetime may travel about 2.4 million km.
More in Birds Of Prey And Waterbirds 1-24
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