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Where do the Arctic terns begin their journey?
A small, slender gray-and-white bird with angular wings, the Arctic Tern is well known for its long yearly migration. It travels from its Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctica where it enjoys the Antarctic summer, covering around 25,000 miles.
Where does the Arctic tern come from?
They breed on the coasts and tundra of Arctic and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, then follow the sun and fair weather on their yearly journey to the Antarctic Circle—a trip that takes a couple of months. Arctic terns migrate in groups known as colonies.
Where do common terns migrate to?
The common tern can be found breeding across most of Europe and Asia and in parts of North America. After the breeding season, the terns migrate south to spend their winter along the coasts of the tropics and the southern hemisphere in areas including Africa, South America and South-east Asia.
Where do the Arctic terns live?
Arctic terns can also be seen along the eastern coast of South America, Western Europe, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, and on Pacific islands. Their winter habitat extends to the northernmost points of Antarctica. Breeding grounds range in type and include boreal forests, islands, tundras, and rocky beaches.
How do I find my tern?
Common terns
- Silvery-grey wings, with a white breast and dark cap on head.
- Orange-red bill usually with a black tip.
- Shorter tail streamers than Arctic and roseate terns.
- When perched their tail streamers are held in line with their wing tips.
Where do tern birds live?
The common tern (Sterna hirundo) is a seabird in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, its four subspecies breeding in temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions.
Why does the Arctic tern migrate?
Terns migrate in search of summer sunlight. Sunlight illuminates the ground and the ocean surface, so the birds can see fish or insects more clearly. Summer weather is also usually calmer at sea, allowing the birds to fly more easily. “It’s really difficult to migrate this far, for this long.
What continent does the Arctic belong to?
Europe
North AmericaAsia
Arctic/Continent