Antarctic Tern
The breeding tern of the Southern Ocean that nests in noisy colonies
What you need to know about the Antarctic Tern
Our Expert Says… "Be careful around nesting terns - to protect their nests they will dive-bomb you and can draw blood with their beaks. Another tactic they use is to poop on you from a height. You've been warned!"
The Antarctic tern breeds throughout southern oceans islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Unlike northern hemisphere terns, the Antarctic tern only migrates locally, although it does have a very large range.
These birds are easy to identify thanks to their deep V-tails and black caps. There are several sub-species that each have their own nesting sites, including sub-species on South Georgia, the South Shetland Islands, and Antarctic Peninsula.
The breeding season for Antarctic terns is between November and December. They like to nest in rocky areas on cliffs but can nest on rocky beaches where there are no sea lions or introduced predators like rats or cats. You will likely hear their noisy nest site before you see it, as they are very vocal.
Pictures of Antarctic Tern
