6 Fascinating Facts About Arctic Birds

Learn more about the birds that feel right at home in the Arctic’s icy climate. Arctic birds, like snow buntings and arctic terns, have made some amazing adaptations to be able to withstand the polar cold.

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Arctic Terns Migrate the Farthest

arctic birds tern — The arctic tern migrates thousands of miles.

Talk about an incredible journey! Arctic terns hold the record for the farthest migration. One trip from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to their winter territory in Antarctica is about 29,000 miles. That impressive zigzagging flight south is done at sea—they are rarely spotted from land.

Common Ravens Are Super Smart

common raven birds Courtesy Jill Conner

The common raven is one of the smartest birds on the planet. Thanks to that ingenuity, ravens survive in all kinds of habitats—from Arctic tundra to Texas heat.

Most Ptarmigans Stay in the Arctic

Alaska's state bird, the willow ptarmigan, in Denali National Park at the beginning of winter in the middle of molting from summer to winter plumage — Willow ptarmigan

Two of the three ptarmigan species, rock and willow, live mainly in the Arctic. The third, white-tailed, also lives as far south as Colorado. (Psst! The “p” in ptarmigan is silent.)

Look for Peregrine Falcons Around the World

Peregrine Falcon,High angle view of birds perching on rock,Ontario,Canada — Peregrine falcon nest with chicks

You probably know that peregrine falcons are fast flyers but it might surprise you to learn these birds of prey are found on six continents. You can spot them nearly everywhere on earth except Antarctica.

Common Redpoll Name Change

common redpoll, winter finch forecast — Common redpolls are Arctic birds that may visit your bird feeders in winter.

After studying the DNA of 77 redpolls, researchers found almost no genetic difference between common and hoary redpolls. As of 2024, the American Ornithological Society reclassified them as one species, known simply as redpolls.

Snow Buntings Breed in Snow

Snow Bunting (plectrophenax Nivalis) — Snow bunting perched on a rock in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Male snow buntings head to their breeding grounds in the high Arctic in early April. The area is still covered in snow, and temperatures are as low as 22 degrees below zero.

Sources

Author

Kirsten Schrader

Now Birds & Blooms' content director, Kirsten has been writing about birding and gardening for 17 years. Her writing and editing roles have spanned the print and digital landscape. Although she has traveled to see amazing birds throughout the U.S., Kirsten has one dream bucket list bird—the male painted bunting.

Reviewer

Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman

As a teenager in the 1970s, Kenn Kaufman hitch-hiked all over North America in pursuit of birds, an adventure later chronicled in his cult-classic book Kingbird Highway. After several years as a professional nature tour leader, taking groups to all seven continents, he transitioned to a career as a writer, editor, and illustrator. His 14 books incl...