Arctic Tern

The Arctic Tern breeds in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe ( even as far south as Brittany, France), Asia and North America. The species is strongly migratory, seeing two summers each year as it migrates from its northern breeding grounds to the oceans around Antarctica and back travelling about 24,000 miles each year. This is the longest regular migration by any known animal.
The Arctic Tern flies as well as glides through the air, performing almost all of its tasks in the air. It lands once every one to three years (depending on their mating cycle) to nest; once they have finished nesting they take to the sky for another long southern migration.
Arctic Terns are medium-sized birds. They have a length of 33–39 cm and a wingspan of 76–85 cm. Arctic Terns are long-lived birds, with many reaching thirty years of age. They eat mainly fish and small marine invertebrates.
These are highly territorial birds and they will attack any creature that comes near its nesting site regardless of size.
This particular bird was taken in Svalbard, Norway in August 2005.