The longest animal migration known to science is that of the Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea). This remarkable bird travels approximately 71,000 kilometers (44,000 miles) each year, migrating between its breeding grounds in the Arctic and wintering areas in the Antarctic. This extraordinary journey is driven by the need to find food and favorable breeding conditions. The Arctic Tern's migration highlights the incredible endurance and navigational skills of migratory species, as they traverse vast and often treacherous distances across oceans and various ecosystems.