62 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



23. Arctic Tern. Sterna paradisaea Brunn. (71) 



Synonyms: Sea Swallow, Common Tern.— Sterna macroura, Namn., 1819, Lawr., 

 1858, Baird, 1859, Coues, 1872, etc.— Sterna arctica, Temm., 1820, Nutt., 1834, Aud., 1835. 



Figure 7. 



The adult in summer may be known by its entirely red bill, but in other 

 respects is so like the Common Tern that it cannot be separated except 

 by careful examination. 



Distribution.^ — Northern Hemisphere; in North America breeding from 

 Massachusetts to the Arctic regions, and wintering southward to Virginia 

 and California. 



This is the most northern member of the genus and is known to nest in 

 the Arctic regions almost as far toward the pole as man has gone. It has 

 been recorded from regions both sides of Michigan, and there is no reason 

 why it should not occur here in some numbers during migrations. It is 

 so similar, however, to the Common Tern that it is very readily overlooked. 



Fig. 7. Arctic Tern. Natural size. 

 From Coues' Key to North American Birds, 5th ed. Dana Estes & Co. 



The sole record for the state so far as we know is that of Mr. A. B. Covert 

 of Ann Arbor, who states that he "secured a male bird at Monroe, Mich., 

 April 9, 1875." Kumlien & Hollister in the "Birds of Wisconsin" (page 

 13) say "A somewhat irregular migrant, at times fairly common, and 

 again quite the opposite. We have taken it nesting in Green Bay, 1879, 

 and in June, 1891 procured a set of eggs, the parent shot over the nest, 

 at Lake Koshkonong." 



On the New England coast where the bird nests abundantly, it does not 

 differ in habits from the Common Tern except that it seems to be unusually 

 fond of its own society and is seldom found mingling with other species 

 of terns. 



The nest and eggs are indistinguishable from those of the Common Tern. 



