Species fact sheet by Global Register of Migratory Species - www.groms.de

Sterna paradisaea Pontoppidan, 1763 Family: Laridae Order: Charadriiformes Back
Arctic tern Küstenseeschwalbe Sterne arctique Charrán arctico
CMS App II (Pop) AEWA Redlist 2000 (Criteria) NL CITES NL (Europe: SPEC N threat status S)
Migration: intercontinental exceptionally long distance

Sterna paradisaea

Renowned for exceptionally long and unparalleled migrations between high Arctic breeding sites and Antarctic wintering grounds. Birds from Finnish archipelago depart in Jul; high Arctic birds may linger until mid-Sept. Most migration well offshore. From Siberia and W North America, moves S through E Pacific. Southbound migrants in Atlantic move SE, and juveniles reach W Africa by Aug; some remain off equatorial Africa through winter. Reaches S Africa by Oct, and many continue ESE to edge of pack ice in Nov. Crossing of Antarctc sea aided by westerly winds which drift some birds E in Southern Ocean. Many winter in Antarctic pack ice between Magnet Bay and Oates Land, with some reaching W to Weddell Sea. Accidental in S South America and New Zealand. Return migration mostly in W Atlantic, but mainly offshore. Rare in West Indies and Gulf of Mexico. Common migrant off S Africa (Oct-Nov and May), including both Nearctic and Palearctic birds.
(del Hoyo J A Elliott; J Sargatal (eds) (1996) - www.hbw.com )

Regions: Antarctic, Europe, North America, North Asia, South America, Sub-Saharan Africa
Recommended link: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/sterna/s._paradisaea$narrative.html
Feedback: mail to Klaus Riede
Explanatory notes
(Last update: 05.08.02 by E.Heuel)

Populations