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Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Least Concern |
| 2010 | Least Concern |
| 2009 | Least Concern |
| 2008 | Least Concern |
| 2004 | Least Concern |
| 2000 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | full migrant | Forest dependency | Does not normally occur in forest |
| Land mass type | Average mass | - |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 10,300,000 | |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 52,200,000 | |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Decreasing | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 13.4 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: The global population is estimated to number > c.2,000,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2006), while the population in Russia has been estimated at c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs and c.1,000-10,000 individuals on migration (Brazil 2009). | ||||
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is decreasing, although some populations have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Vagrant | No | |||
| Angola | Native | No | |||
| Antarctica | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Argentina | Native | No | |||
| Australia | Native | No | |||
| Austria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Belarus | Vagrant | No | |||
| Belgium | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Benin | Native | No | |||
| Bermuda (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Bolivia | Native | No | |||
| Bouvet Island (to Norway) | Unknown | No | |||
| Brazil | Native | No | |||
| British Indian Ocean Territory | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Vagrant | No | |||
| Cameroon | Native | No | |||
| Canada | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Cape Verde | Native | No | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | Native | No | |||
| Central African Republic | Vagrant | No | |||
| Chile | Native | No | |||
| Colombia | Native | No | |||
| Congo | Native | No | |||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | Vagrant | No | |||
| Costa Rica | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Croatia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Cuba | Native | No | |||
| Cyprus | Vagrant | No | |||
| Czech Republic | Vagrant | No | |||
| Denmark | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Ecuador | Native | No | |||
| Egypt | Vagrant | No | |||
| Equatorial Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Estonia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | Native | No | |||
| Faroe Islands (to Denmark) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Finland | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| France | Native | No | Yes | ||
| French Southern Territories | Vagrant | No | |||
| Gabon | Native | No | |||
| Gambia | Native | No | |||
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Ghana | Native | No | |||
| Gibraltar (to UK) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Greece | Native | No | |||
| Greenland (to Denmark) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Guadeloupe (to France) | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Guatemala | Unknown | No | |||
| Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Guinea-Bissau | Native | No | |||
| Heard Island and McDonald Islands (to Australia) | Unknown | No | |||
| Hungary | Vagrant | No | |||
| Iceland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| India | Vagrant | No | |||
| Indonesia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Ireland | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Israel | Vagrant | No | |||
| Italy | Vagrant | No | |||
| Japan | Native | No | |||
| Jordan | Vagrant | No | |||
| Kuwait | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Latvia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Lesotho | Vagrant | No | |||
| Liberia | Native | No | |||
| Libya | Vagrant | No | |||
| Lithuania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Luxembourg | Vagrant | No | |||
| Marshall Islands | Vagrant | No | |||
| Mauritania | Native | No | |||
| Mexico | Native | No | |||
| Montenegro | Vagrant | No | |||
| Morocco | Native | No | |||
| Mozambique | Vagrant | No | |||
| Namibia | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | Yes | ||
| New Zealand | Native | No | |||
| Nigeria | Native | No | |||
| Norway | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Oman | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Panama | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Paraguay | Native | No | |||
| Peru | Native | No | |||
| Poland | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Portugal | Native | No | |||
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Native | No | |||
| Russia (Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (Central Asian) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Senegal | Vagrant | No | |||
| Serbia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Sierra Leone | Native | No | |||
| Slovakia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Somalia | Native | No | |||
| South Africa | Native | No | |||
| South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands | Native | No | |||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| St Helena (to UK) | Vagrant | No | |||
| St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Sudan | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sweden | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland | Vagrant | No | |||
| Togo | Native | No | |||
| Turkey | Vagrant | No | |||
| Ukraine | Vagrant | No | |||
| United Arab Emirates | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uruguay | Vagrant | No | |||
| USA | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Virgin Islands (to USA) | Vagrant | No |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | Northwestern Kattegat |  |
| Denmark | Roskilde Fjord, Selsø and Kattinge Søerne | |
| Denmark | Smålandsfarvandet | |
| Denmark | Sydfynske Ø-hav | |
| Estonia | Kahtla-Kübassaare | |
| Estonia | Kolga bay | |
| Estonia | Lahemaa | |
| Estonia | Pärnu bay (NEW) | |
| Estonia | Siiksaare-Oessaare bays | |
| Estonia | Vaindloo island | |
| Estonia | Väinameri | |
| Finland | Itäinen Suomenlahti National Park | |
| Finland | Merenkurkku archipelago | |
| Finland | Rauma and Luvia archipelagos | |
| France | Cap Gris-nez | |
| Greenland (to Denmark) | Kitsissunnguit (Grønne Ejland) | |
| Iceland | Hrísey | |
| Ireland | Connemara Islands | |
| Netherlands | Griend | |
| Netherlands | Lauwersmeer | |
| Netherlands | Rottumeroog | |
| Netherlands | Rottumerplaat | |
| Netherlands | Texel: Schorren and Zeeburg | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Basins of the Schuchya and Khadytayakha rivers | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Lower Yuribey | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Upper and Middle Yuribey | |
| Russia (Central Asian) | Valley of headwaters of the river Schuchya | |
| Russia (European) | Onega Bay of the White Sea | |
| Russia (European) | Solovetski Archipelago and Zjizjginski island | |
| Sweden | Outer Stockholm archipelago | |
| Sweden | The Archipelago of Nothern Hälsingland | |
| United Kingdom | Copeland Islands | |
| United Kingdom | Coquet Island | |
| United Kingdom | Fair Isle | |
| United Kingdom | Farne Islands | |
| United Kingdom | Foula | |
| United Kingdom | Northumbria Coast | |
| United Kingdom | Papa Stour | |
| United Kingdom | Papa Westray (North Hill and Holm) | |
| United Kingdom | Rousay | |
| United Kingdom | Sleibhtean Agus Chladach Thiriodh | |
| United Kingdom | Solent Marshes and Southampton Water | |
| United Kingdom | Strangford Lough and islands | |
| United Kingdom | Uists Machairs, Lochs and Coast | |
| United Kingdom | West Westray | |
| United Kingdom | Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grassland | Tundra | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Intertidal | Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Sandy-Mud | major | non-breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) | suitable | breeding |
| Wetlands (inland) | Tundra Wetlands (incl. pools and temporary waters from snowmelt) | suitable | breeding |
| Altitude | 0 - 100 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Threats & impact
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Future | Whole (>90%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| |||||||||
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Sterna paradisaea. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Laridae (Gulls and terns) |
| Species name author | Pontoppidan, 1763 |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Decreasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 10,300,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
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