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Antarctic Tern
Sterna Vittata
The Antarctic tern looks very similar to the Arctic tern, but the breeding adult has a black cap and long tail streamers. Both have blood-red bills and red legs. The Antarctic tern is not a ship-follower, and they feed mainly on small fish like the Antarctic herring, and for crustaceans like krill. Nesting takes place quite early: eggs are laid from mid-November. Incubation is by both parents for 23 days, with the chicks hatching from December to late February. Skuas are the main predators.
Stats
Length: 40 - 42 cm
Wingspan: 78 - 80 cm
Geographic Distribution
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