Arctic Tern
Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Northern coasts (summer).
Diet: Sandeels.
Best time to spot: Pole-to-pole migrant, longest journey.
When to look
Resident in the UK, so it can be found year-round. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in British seabirds.
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Common TernUncommon · Coast and inland gravel pits
- Roseate TernRare · Few breeding colonies
- Arctic SkuaUncommon · Northern moors (summer); sea (passage)
- Great SkuaUncommon · Northern isles (summer)
- WhimbrelUncommon · Northern moors (summer); coast (passage)
- Atlantic PuffinUncommon · Sea-cliff burrows (summer)
Kit that helps
Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, tested picks, no extra cost to you.
See Arctic Tern sightings on the map