Gulls and terns · Shorebirds
Sandwich Tern
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Thalasseus sandvicensis
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Voice
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
Call
Jochem verweij
Call
Frank DD4WH
How to recognize it
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37–43 cm, larger than a gull
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Pale grey upperwings, white underparts and neck
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Black cap and shaggy crest, thin black bill with a yellow tip
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Harsh grating call, "kerr-ik"
About the species
The Sandwich Tern looks pale and neat, with a slim black bill tipped in yellow and a black shaggy crest at the back of the head. In flight it reads as a very light, airy shape with long wings and quick, easy movement.
It is loud and restless around the colony, with constant calling and tight spacing between nests. It feeds by plunge-diving from the air, mostly on small fish, and also takes marine worms, molluscs, and insects.
It favours coasts, small islands, and shallow waters with plenty of food. In Central Europe it is present from March to September, then moves to wintering grounds around the coasts of Africa, India, and Sri Lanka.
Where to find
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Along sea walls, breakwaters, and stone piers — listen for the sharp grating call and watch for sudden plunge-dives after small fish.
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At shallow shores, lagoons, and brackish inlets — often circling in loose flocks before dropping almost straight into the water.
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On sandy spits and low offshore islets away from crowds — resting on bare sand or flying low along the waterline with prey in the bill.
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In harbor basins and near moorings — hanging over open water, calling loudly enough to give itself away before you spot it.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Thalasseus sandvicensis Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Sandwich tern Encyclopedia article