The Antarctic Tern occurs on southern subantarctic islands and exposed rocky areas of Antarctica. New Zealand birds belong to subspecies bethunei.
In breeding plumage, adults have a black cap, red bill, white cheeks, and grey body. In non-breeding plumage the black cap recedes behind the eyes and the underparts turn white.
It catches small fish and crustaceans close to shore, either by dipping its bill into the water while flying or by plunging until fully submerged.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.