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10

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) German name(s): "Küstenseeschwalbe" Size: 34-37 cm, incl. tail streamers; wing span 70-80 cm Weight: 85-125 g

Europe: Family Group 10 Family Group 10 Table Great Black-backed Gull European Herring Gull Yellow-legged Gull Common Gull Slender-billed Gull Black-headed Gull Mediterranean Gull Gull-billed Tern Common Tern Arctic Tern Whiskered Tern Black Tern White-winged Black Tern Atlantic Puffin Razorbill Common Guillemot Black Guillemot Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Arctic Terns are medium-sized terns. When in Europe, adults are always found in breeding plumage. During the breeding season they have a black cap that extends well onto the nape of the neck, white cheeks and off-white to light-grey front (chin, neck, chest, belly and vent), of which usually the belly is darkest, and off-white to light-grey wings. The black eyes are surrounded by the black cap. The bill, the very short legs and feet are all dark-red. Although the bill does not have a black tip, it does in many individuals darken towards the tip. Twitcher's tip Compared to Common Terns, the Arctic Tern has even shorter legs and NO black tip to its bill, just some darkening towards the tip.

Taxonomy, classification See Arctic Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range In Europe Arctic Terns are summer breeding migrants. Their breeding range extends from parts of the coastlines of the British Isles (excluding south-facing coasts), the northern Dutch and the German North Sea coastline, around Denmark and around the Baltic Sea (except the coastlines of Poland and the Baltic States). Their breeding range continues northwards, including all islands in the northern Atlantic and the entire Scandinavian coastline, plus the entire northern half of Scandinavia (including inland waters). They are also found throughout northern European Russia. During migration they can be observed mostly along the coastlines of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, to the southern tip of Iberia. Arctic Terns breed in both marine habitats (coastal, islands) and also inland (usually in tundra, near water). During migration and throughout the non-breeding season Arctic Terns remain exclusively in marine habitats, usually on the open oceans.

Sightings Click here for sighting information M. Eaton reports spotting Arctic Terns at Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, in June 2018. All sighting and photographic information presented on this page has kindly been contributed by M. Eaton.

Photos

ADULT

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of two Arctic Terns in breeding plumage riding a wave; note the darkening of the bill towards the tip, without a pronounced black tip
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Lateral view of an Arctic Tern in breeding plumage perched on a rock; note the characteristic very short legs and the black-and-white edge lining on the outermost flight feather (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Arctic Terns in breeding plumage in low flight looking for fish (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Arctic Terns in breeding plumage in low flight looking for fish (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Food, Diet

Like all terns, Arctic Terns feed on fish, which they catch with their bills just under the surface of water in a dive from small height.

Arctic Terns in breeding plumage in low flight looking for fish (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Arctic Terns in breeding plumage diving from low height to catch fish (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Arctic Terns in breeding plumage diving from low height to catch fish; in this photo one can see clearly the tail streamers with their black outer edges (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Arctic Terns in breeding plumage diving from low height to catch fish; note the hunting technique with the extended wings remaining above water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjerval, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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