Arctic Tern

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Arctic Tern, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Red listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	Yes
Listed on the Annexes of	WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II*), AEWA

Census data suggest that Arctic Tern numbers increased by 50% between 1969–70 and 1985–88, but then declined by 31% by the time of the Seabird 2000 Census (1998–2002). However, there is some uncertainty around the initial estimate and hence the reliability of the apparent initial populaion increases. Results from the more recent Seabirds Count (2015–2021) are not yet available but annual monitoring data suggest that the population has remained relatively stable since Seabird 2000, although further declines may have occurred in Scotland (JNCC 2022).

Arctic Terns breed predominantly in coastal areas of Scotland and Ireland, with major colonies found in Shetland and Orkney. In Wales they are restricted to the islands off Anglesey, and there is a small colony on the Isle of Man. Breeding colonies in Ireland are located in five main clusters.

Arctic Tern breeding range has contracted by 31% since the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas. Losses are greatest in western Scotland, where predation by American Mink has been implicated, and in eastern Scotland, where food shortages have resulted in very low breeding productivity.

Arctic Tern is a summer breeding species, arriving from April/May onwards and sometimes lingering into late autumn.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	31 years 0 months 18 days (set in 2012)
Typical Lifespan	13 years with breeding typically at 4 year
Adult Survival	0.9

Wing Length	Adults	272.7±7.6 | Range 262–286mm, N=263
	Juveniles	245.9±18.6 | Range 228-263mm, N=30

Body Weight	Adults	104±9 | Range 90.5–119g, N=221
	Juveniles	106±7.6 | Range 92.0–118g, N=30

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	C2
Field Codes	2-letter: AE | 5-letter code: ARCTE | Euring: 6160

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

There is good evidence that the declines in the Arctic Tern population between 1988 and 2004 are likely to have been driven, at least partly, by low breeding productivity which was related to changes in sandeel populations (Ewins 1985, Monaghan et al. 1989, Suddaby & Ratcliffe 1997). Climate change is believed to have played a role by driving the warming of UK waters thus affecting sandeel abundance (Wright & Bailey 1993).