The Antarctic Tern | A Lesson in Resilience and Elegance

By Cindy Pereira

adult antarctic tern sterna vittata bethunei flying along the shore near research station shutterstock secret atlas

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The Antarctic Tern | A Lesson in Resilience and Elegance

When planning your Antarctic expedition, getting familiar with the wildlife you'll encounter makes your adventure even more interesting than it already is. Among the fascinating birds you'll see during your journey, the Antarctic tern deserves special attention.

These elegant seabirds might seem delicate, but they're remarkably resilient—and surprisingly defensive when it comes to their nests.

the antarctic tern from south america shutterstock secret atlas

Where do Antarctic terns live?

You'll find Antarctic terns throughout the southern ocean islands and along the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Unlike their northern relatives (the Arctic terns), Antarctic terns don't undertake massive migrations, but instead, these birds in the Antarctic stay relatively local while maintaining a large overall range across various subantarctic islands and parts of Antarctica.

These birds have established breeding colonies in many locations including Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island, Iles Kerguelen, St. Paul and Amsterdam Island, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula, some New Zealand subantarctic islands, Macquarie Island, and Heard Island.

How to identify an Antarctic tern

As some of the many animals of Antarctica, you won't have trouble spotting these distinctive Arctic birds during your visit. They're about 40 cm in length with an impressive wingspan of about 80 cm. Look for their bright red bills and orange-red feet and legs—telltale features that stand out against the Antarctic landscape.

Their most recognizable characteristics include their deep V-shaped tails and distinctive black caps on their heads during summer months. In winter, these black caps become streaked with white, giving them a slightly different appearance.

Several sub-species exist across their range, each with subtle variations but maintaining the classic tern profile. The sharp contrast between their white bodies and black caps makes them especially photogenic against the blue Antarctic sky—so keep your camera ready.

antarctic tern sitting on a rock in antarctica shutterstock secret atlas

Antarctic tern habitat

Antarctic terns make their homes in rocky coastal environments, and you'll typically be able to see them around cliff areas or rocky beaches where they can build their nests away from predators. Listen carefully as you approach potential tern territory—you'll often hear their noisy colonies before you actually see them, as they're quite vocal birds.

arctic tern seabird great migratory shutterstock secret atlas

Breeding and nesting

If you're visiting Antarctica between November and December, you'll be there during peak breeding season for these birds that live in the Antarctic. During this time, the birds return to their colonies, typically arriving in September and October to prepare.

They create simple nests—shallow scrapes in the ground lined with pebbles or shells. What's fascinating is how well-camouflaged these nests are and the eggs and chicks blend in well with their surroundings, making them difficult to spot. A single pair may lay up to three eggs, and they're loosely colonial, rarely forming dense groups of more than 40 nests in any one area.

While it’s amazing to see their nests, you should be extremely cautious around nesting terns because to protect their nests, they will dive bomb you and they can draw blood with their beaks. They might also poop on you from above.

Diet and feeding

You might see an impressive fishing display during your visit, as these polar birds are gregarious feeders, often gathering in flocks of up to several hundred birds just beyond the surf zone. Their diet consists mainly of small fish and various crustaceans.

They're opportunistic feeders as well—you might spot them scavenging in the intertidal zone for stranded littoral organisms, taking advantage of whatever the ocean leaves behind. This adaptability in feeding behavior is part of what makes them successful in such a demanding environment.

flying arctic tern sterna paradisaea with a fish in its beak shutterstock secret atlas

antarctic tern sitting on the snow antarctica south pol shutterstock secret atlas

Tern migration

Unlike their northern hemisphere cousins—the Arctic terns—who are the birds with the longest migration of any bird (traveling 44,000-59,000 miles annually between poles), Antarctic terns are homebodies by comparison. They migrate locally within the southern ocean region, traveling relatively short distances between breeding and feeding grounds.

This limited migration pattern distinguishes them from many other tern species but allows them to specialize in the unique environments of the southern polar region. It's an interesting evolutionary divergence that highlights how closely related species can develop very different survival strategies.

Planning your trip to Antarctica

When preparing to see Antarctic terns in their natural habitat, timing your visit to the home of the South Pole between November and January gives you the best opportunity to witness their breeding behavior. Make sure you check everything off of your packing list and bring a good pair of binoculars and a camera with a decent zoom lens so you can observe these fascinating birds without disturbing their nests.

Remember to heed the warnings about their defensive behaviors and keep a respectful distance from any nesting sites you encounter. Your guides will help you navigate these areas safely while maximizing your wildlife viewing opportunities. The best photographs often come from patient observation at a distance, rather than trying to get too close.

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Visit Antarctica with Secret Atlas

By planning your expedition with experienced guides who understand Antarctic wildlife behavior, you'll get to look into the lives of Antarctic terns and the other amazing creatures that call Antarctica home.

The chance to observe these birds in their natural habitat is just one of the many unforgettable experiences awaiting you in Antarctica—a journey that will change how you see our planet's most incredible wilderness.