The Arctic tern sees two summers each year. It has the longest migration of any animal. This tern breeds in the Arctic. It spends the winter in Antarctica. That is about a 22,000 mile (about a 35,000 kilometer) trip each year. The tern spends most of its life in the air!

The Arctic tern is medium sized. It is about 13 inches (33 centimeters) long. It is white and gray with a black cap. Its wings have dark tips. The tern’s tail is forked. Its beak and webbed feet are red. A young tern has a black beak and feet.

This tern does not breed until it is about three years old. A male will offer fish to a female during a fish flight. If she takes it, the two birds will mate for life. The couple will nest about every three years. Usually, they will go back to the same colony each time.

The tern nest is a shallow scrape on bare ground. The female lays about two eggs. They have brown spots. They blend in with the ground. Both parents care for the eggs. They hatch in about 24 days. Both parents feed the fuzzy babies. After they get feathers, they learn to plunge dive. They scoop up food close to the surface of the ocean.

The Arctic tern lives about 20 years. It is listed as threatened in some states. People used to use its feathers to make hats. Now, climate change and loss of habitat are dangers for this bird.