Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Taken on Inner Farne, Northumberland on June 4th 2008. (1/400th sec at f10. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Taken on Inner Farne, Northumberland on June 4th 2008. (1/250th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) DescriptionL: 33 - 39 cm; WS: 66 - 77 cm Like the Common Tern, the Arctic Tern is also known as the 'sea swallow'. It differs from the Common Tern in having an all-red beak and longer tail streamers. It is a largely coastal bird found mainly in the north and west of Britain, although it can be seen inland on migration. It breeds on the coast, on islands in sea-bays, and on tundra near water. Arctic Terns are the ultimate long distance migrants - summer visitors to the UK and winter visitors to the Antarctic. This species has amber status on the UK list. Around 53000 pairs breed here. Sightings
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