Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensis
The Sandwich Tern is a medium-sized tern that can be seen in Britain during the summer months, typically breeding on coastal islands and estuaries, with some populations migrating to African and Asian coasts for the winter. It is a relatively common sight in British waters, particularly in the southern and eastern regions.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Sandwich Tern in the field.
The Sandwich Tern can be identified by its distinctive black crest, yellow tip to its black bill, and a grey mantle with white forehead and underparts. Its wings and back are a pale grey, with a white edge to the primaries, and it has a black tip to its primaries.
The Sandwich Tern is slightly larger than a Black-headed Gull, but smaller than a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
The male Sandwich Tern has a grey back and wings, white underparts, and a black crest that is shed after the breeding season, with the yellow tip to the bill being a distinctive feature.
The female Sandwich Tern is similar to the male, with no significant differences in plumage.
The Sandwich Tern has a loud, sharp "kirrik" or "keerik" call, often repeated in a series of three or four notes.
Sandwich Terns are social birds that feed on small fish, crustaceans, and insects, often diving from a height to catch their prey, and can be seen flying low over the water with swift, agile wingbeats.
The Sandwich Tern can be confused with other tern species, such as the Lesser Crested Tern and the Elegant Tern, but can be distinguished by its yellow-tipped bill, grey mantle, and lack of a fully black crown.
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