Tiddly toes
Isn’t this Arctic Tern a stunning bird?
One distinctive feature of Arctic Terns is that they have incredibly short legs. It probably helps them to keep warm by leaving less of their body exposed. Over evolutionary time, the Arctic Terns with longer legs clearly raised fewer chicks than those with short legs.
Birds have a counter-current heat exchange mechanism in their legs where the heat from blood going to the toes warms the cold blood coming back from them. That means they lose less heat. Other species of bird stand on one leg to conserve heat. Arctic Terns have legs half the length, instead, to keep their bodies warm.
When flying, the feet are neatly tucked away into the most incredible aerodynamic shape. They have to fly the equivalent of three trips to the moon and back in a lifetime of migration. Any flapping feet trailing behind would soon reduce their breeding success and be eliminated from their gene pool.
Selection has produced beautiful birds which are fitted to their environment, beautifully, tiddly toes and all.
More Arctic Terns
Arctic Terns in the bay There's a small group of Arctic Terns in the bay. They are such beautiful birds. I love the long tail… read more
The beauty of Arctic Terns The Arctic Terns at the Bay of Tuquoy have had success with their breeding colony this year. It's been a… read more
A perfect hat-trick A perfect hat-trick in football is when you score three goals, one with your left foot, one with your right… read more
Not long out of the egg Arctic Terns are colonial nesting birds. I'm sure of that fact. I've spent 18 years exploring Westray and seeing their… read more
An emotional state The Arctic Terns on Westray are bringing a succession of fish in to their youngsters. The beach is crowded with… read more
Beautiful conflict Aikerness is the most northerly part of Westray, where the wild waves crash and the wind blows uninterrupted by walls… read more
Air to light Two years ago I took a photograph I love. It is of an Arctic Tern hovering, using a long exposure… read more
As cool as the Arctic The Arctic Terns on Westray are a curious bunch. If you start to care about them it can be an… read more
Arctic Tern feeding A memory of last summer with the Arctic Terns of Westray. There were so few chicks in this colony that… read more