Antarctic Tern

← Back to the app

Sterna vittata

Antarctic Tern, a reference photo
Photo: Butterfly voyages - Serge Ouachée · CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)

The Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) is a seabird in the family Laridae. It ranges throughout the southern oceans and is found on small islands around Antarctica as well as on the shores of the mainland. Its diet consists primarily of small fish and crustaceans. It is very similar in appearance to the closely related Arctic tern, but it is stockier, and it is in its breeding plumage in the southern summer, when the Arctic tern has shed old feathers to get its non-breeding plumage. The Antarctic tern does not migrate like the Arctic tern does, but it can still be found on a very large range. This tern species is actually more closely related to the South American tern.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

We have no record of Antarctic Tern being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Charadriiformes
Family
Laridae
Genus
Sterna
Species
Sterna vittata

Found one? Take a photo and B.inomen will suggest what it is, free.

Check your photo

More species