Discover the Amazing World of Arctic Terns: Top 11 Fun Facts You Won't Believe!

1. The Sooty Shearwater Rival

You might say the Arctic tern is a true "globe-trotter" bird, but before you declare it as the king of migrating birds, hold on to your feathers: The sooty shearwater takes the cake, traveling an impressive 40,000 miles annually between their nesting sites in New Zealand and the North Pacific.
Source => nwf.org

2. Autopilot Sun Chasers

Arctic Terns: the ultimate globe-trotting, sun-bathing party animals with wings! They're like tourists chasing the sun but with built-in autopilot and a penchant for sushi on the go: These remarkable birds travel an astounding 37,000 to 50,000 miles round trip every year, migrating from the arctic circle to Antarctica and back just to bask in 24-hour daylight, all while grabbing fishy snacks from the ocean and snoozing in mid-air during their insane 90-day journey.
Source => americanoceans.org

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=> Fun Facts about Flamingos

3. Million-Mile Frequent Flyers

If the Arctic tern had a frequent flyer card, it would be enjoying first class all the way to the South Pole and back for free: These master voyagers cover a whopping 70,000 km round-trip every year, migrating between their summer residence in the Arctic and their winter getaway in Antarctica, racking up a staggering 2.4 million kilometers in their 30-year lifetime – making them the unrivaled jet-setters of the avian world.
Source => nationalgeographic.com

4. Magnetic Beak GPS

Who needs a GPS when you've got magnetic beaks and sunshine on your side? Arctic terns put all globetrotters to shame with their built-in navigation skills: These birds utilize the Earth's magnetic field and the sun's position to fly seamlessly between their Arctic breeding grounds and Antarctic winter homes, even knowing instinctively where to go on their very first migration.
Source => wildlifetrusts.org

5. Wings of a Feathered Jet

Who needs a private jet when you can be an Arctic tern with wings like a 747's? These fancy fliers are the envy of every frequent flyer program: Arctic terns astonish the world by migrating up to 44,000 miles annually, traveling from their Arctic homes to the Antarctic and back without breaking a sweat – or in this case, a feather!
Source => audubon.org

6. Dive-Bombing Defenders

Arctic terns firmly believe in the motto, "The best defense is a good offense," as they boldly take on the role of fearless dive-bombers to protect their nests—and boy, do they take "You shall not pass!" seriously! The serious reveal: Arctic terns will relentlessly attack potential predators, even polar bears, by repeatedly diving at their heads from behind until the threat retreats, making their colonies quite the impenetrable fortress.
Source => coolantarctica.com

7. "As the Crow Flies" Redefined

Arctic terns have put frequent flyers to shame and redefined the phrase "as the crow flies": These globetrotting avian adventurers embark on an annual round-trip migration of 25,000 miles from the Arctic to Antarctica and back, making it the longest migration journey of any animal on Earth and allowing them to bask in two summers every year.
Source => birdwatchingacademy.com

8. Razor-Beaked Protectors

If Alfred Hitchcock were to make a movie about birds defending their young, Arctic terns would surely steal the spotlight: These feisty fliers valiantly dive-bomb potential predators, extending their razor-sharp beaks to ward off any uninvited guests who dare to approach their open-ground nests, even taking on creatures as massive as reindeer.
Source => discover.silversea.com

9. Lovebirds with Air Miles

If lovebirds had frequent flyer miles, arctic terns would be the envy of them all: These lifelong partners travel an extraordinary distance between the Arctic and Antarctic Circles each year, in search of endless summer.
Source => nationalgeographic.org

10. Globe-Trotting Avian Adventurers

These speedy little jet-setters put your favorite frequent flyer miles to shame, and they don't even need a boarding pass or in-flight snacks: Arctic terns embark on the longest migratory journey of any animal, traveling over 70,000 km annually from their Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic coast and back, with some adventurous avians racking up 81,600 km, more daylight than any other creature on Earth.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Vacation-Envy World Travelers

Taking "frequent flyer" to a whole new level, these incredible world travelers leave vacation enthusiasts green with envy as they embark on annual adventures most of us can only dream of: Arctic terns undergo the longest bird migration in the world, covering an astounding 44,000 miles round trip from their Arctic breeding grounds to their wintertime digs in Antarctica, conquering every climate and corner of the globe with their tireless wings.
Source => oceana.org