Arctic terns are amazing migratory seabirds that breed in the Arctic and subarctic regions in the summer, then fly all the way to Antarctica for the winter. Here are some fascinating Arctic tern facts for kids to learn all about these incredible birds!
What do Arctic terns look like?
Arctic terns are medium-sized seabirds with long, pointed wings and short legs. They have a forked tail and a short, thin bill that is red with a black tip. Their plumage changes throughout the year. During the breeding season, they have a black cap on top of their head, with a white forehead. Their body is pearl grey on top and white underneath, with greyish wing tips.
How big are Arctic terns?
Arctic terns are about 35–43 cm long, with a wingspan of around 76–85 cm. They weigh 85–125 g.
Where do Arctic terns live?
Arctic terns have an extremely large range. They breed in Arctic and subarctic coastal regions in North America, Europe, and Asia. Their breeding range extends as far north as northern Greenland and Svalbard. After breeding, they migrate down to the coasts of Antarctica and the surrounding oceans, where they overwinter.
What is special about the Arctic tern’s migration?
Arctic terns make the longest annual migration of any bird species in the world! They fly from their Arctic breeding grounds all the way down to Antarctica and back each year. This polar migration covers around 20,000–25,000 km every year. Their total lifetime migration distance can add up to over 600,000 km!
How fast do Arctic terns fly?
Arctic terns are extremely fast fliers, flying at speeds of around 70 km/h. During their migration, they travel at speeds of 20–30 km/h. Their streamlined bodies and long, pointed wings make them agile, efficient fliers.
How long do Arctic terns live?
Arctic terns have an incredibly long lifespan for birds their size. They can live for over 30 years in the wild. The oldest recorded Arctic tern was at least 34 years old.
What do Arctic terns eat?
Arctic terns are carnivorous and feed mainly on fish, aquatic insects, shrimp, and small marine invertebrates. They plunge-dive from the air into the ocean to catch prey near the surface.
What are some interesting hunting behaviors of Arctic terns?
Arctic terns have some fascinating hunting behaviors and adaptations:
- They hover in place before plunge-diving straight down into the water to catch prey.
- Their eyes are adapted to be able to see well underwater.
- They sometimes catch flying insects like flies and mosquitoes in the air.
- They will rob other seabirds of their catches.
- They are agile fliers and can catch flying insects while in flight.
How do Arctic terns reproduce?
Arctic terns nest in colonies numbering in the hundreds or thousands of pairs. They breed in the far north during the summer when food is plentiful. The male brings fish to the female as part of courtship. They nest on the ground, laying 1-3 speckled eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs for around 22-26 days. The chicks hatch with downy black feathers and are cared for by both parents, who feed them fish. The young fledge at around 20-25 days old.
What are some interesting nesting behaviors of Arctic terns?
Arctic terns exhibit some fascinating nesting behaviors:
- They are very defensive of their nests and will attack any intruders, including humans.
- They may nest in the same site for many years.
- Pairs mate for life and reunite at the same nesting site each year.
- Their nests are shallow scrapes lined with plant material or seaweed.
- Colonies can contain thousands of nesting pairs close together.
Do Arctic terns migrate in flocks?
Yes, Arctic terns migrate in large flocks numbering in the thousands. They gather together at staging areas before making long flight hops of hundreds or thousands of kilometers. Traveling in flocks allows them to take advantage of favorable winds and protects individuals from predation.
What threats do Arctic terns face?
Some threats to Arctic terns include:
- Predation by falcons, gulls, jaegers, and other avian predators
- Severe storms during migration
- Lack of food resources due to overfishing and climate change
- Disturbance and habitat destruction at breeding colonies
- Pollution, especially oil spills
Are Arctic terns endangered?
No, Arctic terns have an extremely large global population estimated at over 2 million mature individuals. They are listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. However, some populations have declined, especially in Norway and the UK.
Why are Arctic terns important?
As long-distance migratory seabirds, Arctic terns play important roles in their breeding and wintering ecosystems, including:
- Being high-level predators that help regulate food webs
- Dispersing nutrients between oceans through guano (bird poop)
- Indicating health of marine ecosystems based on their breeding success
- Being the subject of important research on navigation during epic migrations
Fun facts about Arctic terns
- Arctic terns defend their nests very aggressively by diving at intruders.
- An Arctic tern was observed with over 420,000 km on its migration tracker.
- They make a loud, strident kee-arr call.
- A group of terns is called a “ternery.”
- Their genus name Sterna means “tern” in Latin.
- Chicks hatch with sets of specialized down feathers for insulation.
- They may live over 30 years, despite their small size.
Conclusion
In summary, Arctic terns are remarkable migratory seabirds that breed in the far north and fly all the way to Antarctica and back every year. Their extreme migrations, nesting behaviors, adaptations for swimming and flying, and important ecosystem roles make them a fascinating species for kids to learn about. Their agility, speed, and tenacity in making their epic yearly journeys around the globe is inspirational. With a lifespan over 30 years spent migrating hundreds of thousands of kilometers, the Arctic tern truly earns its title as the champion of champions in long-distance migration!