Arctic Tern Migration: The Longest Journey of Any Animal
Arctic tern migration is the longest journey of any animal ever tracked. Every year, these slim seabirds fly from their Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctica and back. Tracked birds from Greenland and Iceland averaged about 70,900 kilometers a year.
Quick Facts
- Species: Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea)
- Yearly trip: About 70,900 km for birds from Greenland and Iceland
- Lifetime: About 2.4 million km, more than 3 round trips to the Moon
- Lifespan: Often around 30 years
- Known for: Two summers a year and more daylight than any other creature
Pole to Pole, Every Year
Arctic terns breed in the Arctic summer, then fly south to spend the southern summer near Antarctica. A 2010 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences used tiny trackers to follow birds from Greenland and Iceland. They averaged about 70,900 km a round trip, the longest annual migration ever recorded electronically.
To the Moon and Back, Three Times
Arctic terns often live around 30 years. Over that time, one bird may fly about 2.4 million kilometers, the same as a round trip from Earth to the Moon more than three times.
Two Summers a Year
Because it chases summer at both ends of the planet, the Arctic tern sees two summers a year and more daylight than any other animal.
Small but Fierce
Arctic terns are one of the most aggressive terns. They fiercely defend their nests and will attack people and large predators, usually striking the top or back of the head. They feed by plunge-diving into the water for small fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far does an Arctic tern fly in a year?
Tracked Arctic terns from Greenland and Iceland averaged about 70,900 km a year, the longest migration ever recorded.
How long do Arctic terns live?
Often around 30 years, which adds up to about 2.4 million km of flying.
Why do Arctic terns migrate so far?
They breed in the Arctic summer and spend the southern summer near Antarctica, following long daylight and food.
Related Stories
- Animals That Migrate the Longest Distances
- Monarch Butterfly Migration
- The Tiny Life of a Hummingbird
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Sources
- Egevang et al. (2010), PNAS: Tracking of Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea Reveals Longest Animal Migration: the 70,900 km average
- Wikipedia: Arctic Tern: lifespan, lifetime distance, two summers and nest defense
- Audubon Field Guide: Arctic Tern: species background
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Arctic Tern: species background
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Cover photo: Charles J. Sharp via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.