Collection: Arctic tern

The Arctic tern ( Sterna paradisaea ) is a remarkable migratory bird, famous for making the longest annual migration in the animal kingdom – from the Arctic to the Antarctic. In Quebec, it nests on northern coasts, particularly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Nunavik. Slender, with white and gray plumage, a bright red beak and a scissor-like tail, it is agile in flight and has a piercing call. The tern feeds on small fish that it catches by diving from the air. Very protective of its nest, it does not hesitate to attack intruders, including humans. It depends on healthy marine environments for its survival. Although its populations are generally stable, it is sensitive to pollution, overfishing and disturbance.