The world’s longest migrating bird spotted in Ireland
A species of bird that undertakes the longest migration of any animal has been spotted in Ireland for the first time this year.
The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a remarkable seabird known for its incredibly long migrations, traveling from their Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctica for the southern summer and back again each year.
The journey ensures the Terns experience two summers per year and more daylight than any other creature on Earth. Instead of a direct route, they often take meandering paths to take advantage of prevailing winds and find better feeding grounds, including in Ireland.
The first sighting of the bird in Ireland in 2025 was made on Sunday last (20 April) at Mutton Island in Galway, with additional sightings yesterday (Saturday, 26 April) at Lough Beg in Derry and Dalkey in Dublin.
There were more than 80 sightings of the bird in Ireland during 2024, according to Irishbirding.com, with the last coming on 11 November at Belfast Lough.
Birdwatch Ireland says the Arctic Tern is mainly a coastal breeding bird, but in Ireland the species also breeds inland on the freshwater lakes of Lough Corrib in Galway and Lough Conn in Mayo. More colonies are found on the west and southeast coast with Wexford, Kerry, Mayo and Donegal recording the largest number of birds.
The small and slender birds have a gray and white plumage and angular wings. Breeding adults have a distinctive full black cap, short red legs, and a red bill. Non-breeding adults have black legs and bills and a smaller black cap around the eye.
The average lifespan of Arctic Terns is typically over 30 years.
