Arctic Tern - Birds Wiki - Fandom

26.02.
2024 18:41 Arctic Tern | Birds Wiki | Fandom
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The Arctic Tern
(Sterna Arctic Tern
paradisaea) is a
ANIME
seabird in the
family Laridae. It is
known for having
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the longest
migration of any
TV
bird.
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
WIKIS
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
START A Genus: Sterna

WIKI
Species: Sterna paradisaea
Contents
1. Description
2. Distribution
3. Behavior
4. Diet
5. Reproduction
6. Population
6.1. Threats
6.2. Number
6.3. Ecological niche
7. Fun Facts
8. Gallery
04:54 41:20
Description
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The Arctic tern is a species of small seabird with short legs and
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comparably narrow wings. A slender, dainty bird with long, pointed
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26.02.2024 18:41 Arctic Tern | Birds Wiki | Fandom
wings and a forked tail, the Arctic Tern measures 66-79 cm (26-31
in) in wingspan and 33-39 cm (13-15½ in) in length including the tail
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streamers, which are 7-11½ cm (2,3-4,5 in) long. Compared to the
Common Tern, the Arctic Tern is slightly smaller, with a rounder
head, a shorter neck, shorter legs, a shorter bill, and longer tail
streamers which extend past the wingtips when perched. The adult
in breeding plumage is medium grey above and paler below, with a
FAN black cap and nape and uniformly grey wings with a very narrow
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black line on the trailing edge of the primaries, lacking the dark
wedge of the Common Tern. The grey plumage creates a contrast
with the white throat and upper cheeks. All flight feathers appear
GAMES white and translucent from below. The legs are red in colour and
very short, and the bill, fine and pointed, is solid blood-red with no
black tip. Meanwhile, in regular (non-breeding) season, their legs
ANIME and beak become black and the black spot on its forehead
decreases in size. The juvenile usually lacks the brownish wash of
the juvenile Common Tern and has a fainter carpal bar. It has a
MOVIES white forehead, grey primaries and white secondaries, and an
initially red-based bill which quickly turns black.
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Distribution
Habitat of the Arctic tern covers the huge territory, extending from
START A
WIKI arctic and sub-arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia to
coastal regions with mild temperatures in summers, reaching as
south as Brittany and Massachusetts. Within regions of their
habitat, Arctic terns are met anywhere from seacoasts to lakes and
swamps. As summer approaches in the Southern Hemisphere,
terns migrate right up to the Antarctic Ice.
Behavior
Terns are very communicative and sociable animals: every year they
congregate for nesting in the same place, making up large groups.
They fiercely defend the nesting area, building the nests close to
each other. These birds see the most sun due to the fact that they
migrate from the Arctic summer to Antarctica, thus living in
constant summer. Arctic terns are diurnal, meaning that they are
active during the day. When they search for food, they fly upward
for a while and then hover in the air, looking carefully for prey on
the water’s surface. During their long-distance migrations, Arctic
terns stop to rest right of the water or on floating logs.
Diet
Arctic terns are carnivores (piscivores).These birds feed upon small
species of fish (sand launaes, sand eels, and capelins) as well as
crayfish.
Reproduction
Arctic terns are monogamous, meaning that they mate once in a
lifetime. Migrating there and back, they usually camp in the same
places every year. Mating ritual looks as follows: a male performs
so-called “fish flight”, carrying caught fish through the air,
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accompanying the process with screaming sounds (they are able to
shout with prey in their mouths), after which it lands and offers the
prey to the female. Their nesting areas are rocky or sandy beaches
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of the far north, where the birds congregate in colonies. Before
incubation, Arctic terns excavate hollows in grit or sand. Incubation
takes place in summer, from June to July, lasting about 21-22 days.
Female typically lays 2-3 eggs. When hatched, the chicks are
downy. Neither altricial nor precocial, they begin to move around
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hatching. Usually, they do not stray far from the nest. The chicks
are protected and cared by both parents during the first 10 days of
their lives. After another 10-15 days they are able to fly. Both males
GAMES and females of arctic terns start breeding at the age of 3-4 years.
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Population
Threats
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Threats to Arctic terns’ population are many: rats and hedgehogs,
attacking their nests; enlargement of human habitat; disturbance
of terns in their home range by entertainment purposes; excessive
WIKIS
fishing by humans, led to lack of sand eels, the major source of food
for Arctic terns. In addition, changes, now taking place in Arctic and
Antarctic ecosystems, will definitely affect Arctic terns.
START A
WIKI
Number
The total population of Arctic tern is officially estimated by IUCN,
counting up to 2 million individuals. Thus, in Russia only, 10.000-
100.000 breeding pairs and 1.000-10 migrating individuals have
been estimated. The population as a whole isn’t endangered, being
listed in the IUCN Red List as of Least Concern (LC) with a
decreasing population trend.
Ecological niche
Being sea predators, these birds noticeably control the marine
ecosystem in their habitat. They influence the population number
of species they feed on. Sometimes they catch and leave the prey,
giving opportunity local scavengers to take advantage of it. And
finally, Arctic terns serve as the major source of food for many
animal species of the area.
Fun Facts
Hatching out, chicks of terns usually have 2 colors - brown and
gray - while they occasionally have different colors, even coming
from one family.
To the date, the oldest Arctic tern ever recorded was found in Maine
(USA) and was 34 years old. After being studied, it was released
back into the wild.
Due to migratory lifestyle, these birds see two summers a year thus
seeing more sunlight than any other animal on the planet.
How
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addition, yourmigration
the longest fandoms?route on the earth belongs to
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Arctic terns. For example, those nesting in the Netherlands, pass a
huge distance of as long as 90.000 km per year: this is longer than
the migration route of any other animal.
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An average Arctic tern travels about 2,400,000 km distance during
its life. To compare: the distance between the earth and the moon
is less than 400.000 km.
FAN There’s a phenomenon, called “dread moment”. It’s when a group of

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Arctic terns, just before taking flight, grows totally silent for a short
time.
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In order to save energy during long flights, terns, instead of flapping
their wings, use the hang-gliding technique. In fact, they are
exceptional gliders, managing even to take a rest or sleep while
ANIME gliding.
Arctic terns, along with Hummingbirds, are the only species of birds
MOVIES that exercise “free flight” or hover.
Gallery
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WIKIS
Flying over the sea.

START A
WIKI
A group of Arctic Terns hovering

in the wind.
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26.02.

2024 18:41 Arctic Tern | Birds Wiki | Fandom

Birds Wiki EXPLORE CONTINENT TAXONOMY STATUS COMMUNITY

Arctic Tern SIGN IN TO EDIT

START A Genus: Sterna

6.3. Ecological niche

FAN There’s a phenomenon, called “dread moment”. It’s when a group of

Flying over the sea.

A group of Arctic Terns hovering

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise

How do you celebrate your fandoms?

Birds Wiki EXPLORE CONTINENT TAXONOMY STATUS COMMUNITY

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About Privacy Policy

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Community Central Help

Birds Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community.

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