Gardening Actions:

Create a place for wildlife
Make your yard a refuge for migratory birds.

Stop migratory birds from hitting your windows
Thousands of birds die each year on their migrations when hitting residential and commercial windows.

Create a haven for hummingbirds
Attract these tiny and colorful migrating birds.

Safe birdfeeding tips
The best food for birds comes from native plants, but if you offer feeders, here are some important tips.

Purchasing Actions:

Join NWF and help migratory birds
Your tax-deductible donation supports NWF's work to protect migratory birds and other imperiled wildlife. We'll acknowledge your gift with a complimentary plush animal. Thank you.

Buy bird-friendly coffee
Many birds spend the winter in South America. Help protect their homes from coffee growers. Purchasing this coffee also supports NWF.

Migration Distance
Round-trip journey can total 22,000-30,000 miles

Migration Route and Stopover Sites
Arctic terns leave the Arctic Circle and head eastwards across the Atlantic Ocean. They fly down the west coasts of Europe and Africa. In spring they fly north back to the Arctic, following the east coasts of South and North America.

Bird Size
14-17 inches and weighs under 2 pounds

Interesting Facts
Considering an Arctic tern might live up to 30 years, a single bird may travel more than 650,000 miles in its lifetime.

They see more daylight than any other living creature since they are in both the Arctic and Antarctic during the periods of longest days.

Young Artic terns begin the migration with their parents. After they have reached Antarctica, the young will stay in the southern hemisphere until they are about two years old and will then migrate back to their birthplace.

Send Arctic tern e-cards Invite your friend to come learn about this amazing bird.