Gulls and terns · Shorebirds
Sandwich Tern
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Thalasseus sandvicensis
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Voice
Call
Call
Call
How to recognize it
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Body length 37–41 cm
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Pale grey wings, white underparts and neck
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Adult in breeding plumage: black cap and shaggy crest
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Thin black bill with a yellow tip; loud grating call, "kerr-ink"
About the species
Its back and wings are pale silvery grey, set against a white underside. A shaggy black crest runs over the crown, and the long, narrow black bill ends in a small yellow tip. In flight, the feathers at the wingtips darken in summer. After breeding, the forehead turns mostly white, leaving less black on the head.
A loud, grating "kear-ik" carries across the colony. It dives straight from the air into the sea for fish, rather than hovering first. During courtship, the male brings a fish to the female.
It nests on coasts and small islands, scraping a hollow in the ground, often in densely packed colonies; suitable large freshwater lakes near the coast are another breeding site. Its breeding range runs from Europe to the Caspian Sea, and after breeding it moves to wintering grounds around the Mediterranean and along the coasts of Africa, India and Sri Lanka.
Where to find
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From the seashore, watch for direct plunge-dives over the water as small fish are hunted.
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From May to July, look for dense colonies nesting on the ground on small coastal islands and in dunes.
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Breeding colonies occur only exceptionally on suitable large freshwater lakes near the coast — when alarmed, adults circle overhead with loud calls.
