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Arctic Tern | Sterna paradisaea

The Arctic Tern is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Laridae bird family group which includes birds such as Typical Shrikes.

The description for the Arctic Tern (Latin name Sterna paradisaea) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Sterna paradisaea can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 328 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 460. You will find a picture of the Arctic Tern on page 432.

NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any.

There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Arctic Tern between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition

The Arctic Tern has a height of 35 cms and weighs around 119 gms. The head is coloured black while the bill is coloured black. The Sterna paradisaea has a white coloured throat, red legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown.

Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts.

Head is black

Eyes are brown

Bill is black

Legs are red

Throat is white

Back is brown

Feeding Habits ...

This bird forages for food on the ground

This birds forages for fish and other aquatic dwellers through surface sizing and diving for food in the water.

This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water.

This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten .

Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...

You can see the Arctic Tern bird on coastal regions and on the sea shore where the bird will be foraging with other birds

The Arctic Tern is a very rare bird that can only be seen out at sea following fish vessels. It can be seen in the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean.

Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...

The Arctic Tern is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild.

The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition * edited by PAR Hockey, WRJ Dean and PG Ryan, published by "The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund."