Arctic Tern: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Five facts

1. One Arctic tern from the Farne Islands, fitted with a tracker, flew 96,000 km in ten months: a world migration record.
2. Terns breeding in Greenland or Iceland average a 70,900 km round trip each year. Some hit 81,600 km.
3. Arctic terns fiercely defend their nests. They will dive at people and big predators, striking the top of the head.
4. Arctic terns often reach 15-30 years, long for a seabird. The oldest known one lived 31 years.
5. An Arctic tern lays one to three mottled eggs, most often two. Chicks fledge about 21 to 24 days after hatching.

The quiz

1. How far did the tagged Farne Islands tern fly in ten months?

• 960 km
• 9,600 km
• 96,000 km (correct)
• 960,000 km

It logged 96,000 km in ten months.

2. What is the average yearly round trip of Greenland and Iceland terns?

• 7,090 km
• 70,900 km (correct)
• 709,000 km
• 7 million km

The average is 70,900 km each year.

3. What does an Arctic tern do when a person comes near its nest?

• Flies away for good
• Pretends to be hurt
• Dives and strikes their head (correct)
• Sings to calm them

It is one of the most aggressive terns and strikes intruders on the head.

4. How old was the oldest known Arctic tern?

• 11 years
• 21 years
• 31 years (correct)
• 51 years

The oldest known individual lived 31 years.

5. How many eggs does an Arctic tern most often lay?

• One
• Two (correct)
• Five
• Nine

It lays one to three eggs, most often two.

More about the Arctic Tern

All lessons

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