The Arctic Tern's Endless Commute

The Arctic tern is a seabird in the family Laridae.

Adults weigh 86 to 127 grams with a wingspan of 76 to 85 centimeters.

Arctic terns fiercely defend nests by striking intruders' heads. A 100-gram bird attacking polar bears lacks self-awareness.

Arctic terns see more daylight than any other creature.

Arctic terns eat mainly small fish and marine crustaceans like amphipods and krill.

Courtship involves a high flight where the female chases the male upward. A raw herring is their love language.

Average annual round-trip lengths reach about 70,900 kilometers for birds nesting in Iceland and Greenland.

Many Arctic terns reach 15 to 30 years of age, with a record of 31 years. Thirty-one leaves little vacation time.