European birds    Bird names   News   Family groups 1-26    Glossary    Plumage    Tips    Thumbnails    Gen. info    Credits    Photos for sale   
NON-PASSERINES     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10     11     12     13     14 15     16     17     18     19     20     21     22     23     24     25     26     PASSERINES
Common names sorted alphabetically: A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   V   W   Y  

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

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Arctic Tern at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

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.

Close-up view of an Arctic Tern in breeding plumage with its prey, a Sand Eel (photo courtesy of M. A. Pears)
[Farne Islands, off the North-east coast of England, April 2014]

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.