Tern, Sandwich

The Sandwich tern is a medium-large tern with grey upperparts, white underparts, a yellow-tipped black bill and a shaggy black crest which becomes less extensive in winter with a white crown. Young birds bear grey and brown scalloped plumage on their backs and wings. It is a vocal bird. It nests in a ground scrape and lays one to three eggs.

Like all Thalasseus terns, the Sandwich tern feeds by plunge diving for fish, usually in marine environments, and the offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.

Latin Name
Thalasseus sandvicensis

When the bird was spotted

Date Location Title Seen by Interestingness
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors Saltholme b.m.stokesley ***
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors South Gare b.m.stokesley ****
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors South Gare b.m.stokesley ***
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors South Gare b.m.stokesley ***
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors North Gare b.m.stokesley **
UK, Northumberland Saint Mary's Island b.m.stokesley ***
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors South Gare b.m.stokesley ***
Portugal, Algarve Tavira b.m.stokesley
UK, Farne Islands Not so common as the other terns, still lots on the island mike421 **