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Sandwich Tern

Sterna sandvicensisOrder: CHARADRIIFORMESFamily: Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)

Sandwich Tern Portrait
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Sandwich Tern Variations

Sandwich Tern: Winter Adult
Default description
Sandwich Tern: Winter Adult
Sandwich Tern: Juvenile
Default description
Sandwich Tern: Juvenile
Sandwich Tern: Breeding Adult
Default description
Sandwich Tern: Breeding Adult

General

Sandwich Tern: Only medium-sized tern with long slender black bill tipped with yellow; upperparts are very pale gray, nearly white, and underparts are white. Black crown has a short black crest. White tail is deeply forked; legs and feet are black. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has white forehead and darker primaries. Juvenile has faint streaking on weakly crested crown, gray chevrons on upperparts, and paler bill.

Range and Habitat

Sandwich Tern: Atlantic coast north to Virginia, and entire Gulf Coast.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"gwit-gwit", "skir-rick", "kehk", "ki-i wii wii"

Interesting Facts

  • The Sandwich Tern was originally described by ornithologist John Latham in 1787 as Sterna sandvicensis, but was recently moved to its current genus Thalasseus following mitochondrial DNA studies.
  • The current genus name is derived from the Greek Thalassa, "sea", and sandvicensis refers to Sandwich, Kent, Latham's type locality.
  • It is not very aggressive toward potential predators, relying on the sheer density of the nests—often only 8–12 in apart— and nesting close to more aggressive species such as Arctic Terns and Black-headed Gulls to avoid predation.
  • A group of sandwich terns are collectively known as a "hogey" of terns.


Author

David Lukas

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Range Map for Sandwich Tern
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Sterna sandvicensis
Length13.5 - 16 Inches
Wingspan34 Inches

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern: Only medium-sized tern with long slender black bill tipped with yellow; upperparts are very pale gray, nearly white, and underparts are white. The black crown has a short black crest. White tail is deeply forked; legs and feet are black. Direct flight, hovers before diving for fish.

● Song: "gwit-gwit", "skir-rick", "kehk", "ki-i wii wii"

● Foraging & Feeding: Sandwich Tern: Prefers to feed at sea; Usually hovers, then dives from great heights to catch prey under water. Eats small fish, squid and shrimp.

● Breeding & nesting: Sandwich Tern: Monogamous; colonial, often mixed with other terns, especially Royal Terns. Simple nest on coastal beaches and islands, in the open above tidemark, unlined or lined with debris; One to three white to pink eggs with brown, black, and gray markings. Incubation ranges from 21 to 29 days and is carried out by both sexes; first flight at 28 to 32 days.

● Similar species: Sandwich Tern: Royal Tern is larger, plumper, with heavier, orange bill. Gull-billed Tern lacks crest and has stubbier bill and less forked tail.

Flight Pattern

Powerful direct flight, strong and graceful with wings held slightly crooked. Usually hovers before diving for fish.
Sandwich Tern: Breeding Adult
● Range & Habitat: Sandwich Tern: Atlantic coast north to Virginia, and entire Gulf Coast.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
PopulationCommon in range
MigrationMigratory
Weight7.3 Ounces