Photo: Butterfly voyages - Serge Ouachée / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Antarctic Tern

Sterna vittata

Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Oceans & Seabirds.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Australia Birds of Brazil Birds of New Zealand Birds of South Africa Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria

By family

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Argentina Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Brazil Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of New Zealand Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Africa Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Australia Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Tasmania Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of Victoria

See what's near you right now

The Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) is a member of the Laridae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 139 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
Genus Sterna
Species vittata

Where it lives

Widespread, subantarctic and Antarctic is., South Atlantic, South Indian, western South Pacific and Antarctic Pen.

Oceans & Seabirds

Quick facts

Weight: 139 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Antarctic Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Antarctic Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) belongs to the Laridae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO widespread, subantarctic and Antarctic is., South Atlantic, South Indian, w South Pacific and Antarctic Pen.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 139 g, with a wing length of about 26 cm and a tail of around 13.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Antarctic Tern — Alarm call, call, flight call, display

Recorded by Fabrice Schmitt Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Antarctic Tern?

The Antarctic Tern is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 139 g.

Where does the Antarctic Tern live?

The Antarctic Tern is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO widespread, subantarctic and Antarctic is., South Atlantic, South Indian, w South Pacific and Antarctic Pen, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Antarctic Tern belong to?

The Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Antarctic Tern eat?

The Antarctic Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Antarctic Tern migrate?

The Antarctic Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Antarctic Tern endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Antarctic Tern make?

1 real field recording of the Antarctic Tern — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Antarctic Tern's range?

The Antarctic Tern has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million km².