It is estimated that there are over 9,000 bird species on Earth, belonging to 27 orders and more than 160 families. So, which birds are related to the Arctic? Statistics show that there are over 120 bird species in the Arctic, most of which are migratory, with 12 species being permanent residents. In Antarctica, however, there are only 43 bird species, with penguins and skuas being the only permanent inhabitants. Whether penguins should be classified as birds remains highly controversial.
Arctic migratory bird route map
Arctic Ironclaw Eagle
Of all the birds living in the Northern Hemisphere, about one-sixth migrate to the Arctic to breed. According to a bird expert who has observed and studied the Arctic grasslands for over a decade, migratory birds from all over the world make their home in the Alaskan Arctic region alone. For example, eider ducks come from the Aleutian Islands, tundra swans from the east coast of America, black geese from Mexico, sabene gulls from Chile, mergansers from East Africa, short-tailed gulls from Tasmania, and sandpipers from Malaysia and the east coast of China. In other words, the Arctic is a paradise and homeland for almost all migratory birds in the world. This is because the Arctic not only has vast grasslands and abundant food, but also a quiet and clean environment with little human interference, conditions that the Antarctic lacks. Therefore, Antarctic migratory birds can only make short-distance north-south migrations nearby; the longest-flying are albatrosses, which can make long-distance migrations around Antarctica, but they do not migrate north. Many migratory birds in the Southern Hemisphere, however, would rather fly tens of thousands of miles to the Arctic to overwinter than go to Antarctica to die.
Stints from China
Therefore, for the bird kingdom, the Arctic is the center of its activities, while Antarctica is at best a territory that few birds are willing to visit.
