The longest annual migration of any animal on Earth, in which the Arctic tern travels an average of roughly 70,000 kilometers a year between Arctic breeding grounds and Antarctic waters, chasing near-continuous daylight across both hemispheres' summers. Over a lifespan that can exceed thirty years, a single Arctic tern may fly a cumulative distance equivalent to three round trips to the Moon, a figure confirmed only recently through satellite and geolocator tracking of individual birds.
Facts
PeriodicityEvery year Arctic terns travel from their Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctica and back. 1 ScaleArctic terns travel a distance of at least 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) on their annual round trip migration. 1 First DescribedElectronic tracking confirmed the scale of individual variation in Arctic tern migration; in 2016 one tracked Arctic tern was recorded traveling 59,650 miles (96,000 kilometers) over the course of its yearly migration. 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceIn breeding plumage, an Arctic tern has a black patch covering its head and forehead. 1 Sources
1. National Wildlife Federation: Arctic Tern
Migration overview paragraph
Every year they travel from their Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctica and back
Migration distance paragraph
a distance of at least 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers)
Tracking history paragraph
In 2016, one arctic tern was tracked and recorded traveling 59,650 miles
Appearance paragraph, breeding plumage
a black patch covers their head and forehead
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