The Incredible Journey of Arctic Terns

The Arctic Tern may look delicate, but it holds one of nature’s most jaw-dropping records: the longest migration of any known animal. Every year, this remarkable seabird journeys from its breeding grounds in the Arctic all the way to the Antarctic—and then back again—a round trip of over 44,000 miles (71,000 kilometers).

This epic voyage allows Arctic Terns to live in perpetual summer, chasing daylight between the planet’s two poles. Over the course of its lifetime—up to 30 years—an Arctic Tern may fly the equivalent of three trips to the Moon and back.

How do they manage such a journey? Unlike many birds that follow direct routes, Arctic Terns use a zigzag path that takes advantage of prevailing winds and weather patterns. This “figure-eight” migration strategy maximizes energy efficiency while allowing them to feast on fish and krill-rich feeding grounds along the way.

Arctic Terns are superb fliers, with long, slender wings built for dynamic soaring and gliding. They spend most of their lives at sea, only coming ashore to breed during the Arctic summer. Their ability to detect magnetic fields, celestial cues, and possibly even smells helps them navigate with incredible precision.

Despite their small size—about the length of a pencil—they are hardy travelers. Terns rely on strong flight muscles, lightweight bodies, and a keen sense of direction to brave storms, predators, and the changing climate.

Their migratory route touches nearly every major ocean basin, and their annual flight spans more than half of the globe. It's not just a feat of endurance; it’s a testament to how evolution can sculpt an animal perfectly suited for long-distance life on the wing.