Arctic Tern

About the Arctic Tern

The Arctic Tern is a sea bird that breeds in colonies in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America (as far south as Brittany in France and Massachussetts in the United States). It is a migratory bird, spending summers in its northern breeding grounds, and the other half of the year summers in Antarctica. This is the longest migration route by any known animal!

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Details & Statistics

Added to Birdorable
Hatched on 12 January 2009
Scientific Name
Sterna paradisaea
  • Charadriiformes
  • Sternidae
  • Sterna
  • S. paradisaea
Birdorable Family
Conservation Status
Least Concern (as of 20 March 2020)
LC
  • Least Concern (LC)
  • Near Threatened (NT)
  • Vulnerable (VU)
  • Endangered (EN)
  • Critically Endangered (CR)
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW)
  • Extinct (EX)
Source: IUCN Red List
Measurements
Units: Imperial / Metric
13 to 15 inches
26 to 30 inches

Range

International Names

Brazilian (Português brasileiro) Trinta-réis-ártico
Chinese (汉语) 北极燕鸥
Czech (Cesky) Rybák Dlouhoocasý
Danish (Dansk) Havterne
Dutch (Nederlands) Noordse Stern
Finnish (Suomi) Lapintiira
French (Français) Sterne Arctique
German (Deutsch) Küstenseeschwalbe
Italian (Italiano) Sterna Codalunga
Japanese (日本語) キョクアジサシ (Kyokuajisashi)
Norwegian (Norsk) Isterne
Polish (Polski) Rybitwa Popielata
Russian (русский язык) Полярная к
Spanish (Español) Charrán Artico
Swedish (Svenska) Silvertärna
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Baby Birdorable: Arctic Tern

Baby Birdorable: Arctic Tern

If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? Below are some baby photos (shared via Flickr) of the Arctic Tern. New Life by warner2006 ... more