Population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e., declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). Early in courtship, high spiraling flight with long descending glides. The Elegant Tern looks similar, but has a longer and slenderer bill that is all orangey-red in color. Spread the word. Young bird recognizes its own parents by voice, comes out of creche to be fed when they approach. Age at first flight about 28-32 days; young may remain with parents another 4 months. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Tell Congress to stop efforts to strip away critical protections in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. There are lots of problems: 1: The bird is right-of-center in the frame when it should be left-of-center. Feeds mainly on smaller fish, such as sand lance and mullet; also eats shrimp, squid, marine worms, and many insects. Image #2: Sandwich Tern landing at mixed flock. The Sandwich tern is a very white tern, with a black cap on its head, a long black bill with a yellow tip and short black legs. It is very closely related to the lesser crested tern (T. bengalensis), Chinese crested tern (T. bernsteini), Cabot's tern (T. acuflavidus), and elegant tern (T. elegans) and has been known to interbreed with the lesser crested. [2] The current genus name is derived from Greek Thalassa, "sea", and sandvicensis, like the English name, refers to Sandwich, Kent, Latham's type locality. Nest (built by both sexes) is shallow scrape, sometimes lined with bits of debris. Like all Thalasseus terns, the Sandwich tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, almost invariably from the sea. Most species are grey above and white below, and have a black cap which is reduced or flecked with white in the winter. [1], The Sandwich tern is among the taxa to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. Larger than the typical terns of the Forster's / Common sort, but distinctly smaller than Royal or Caspian terns. Chinese crested tern is the most similar to Sandwich, but has a reversal of the bill colour, yellow with a black tip; it does not overlap in range with Sandwich tern so confusion is unlikely. It has a population estimated at 460,000–500,000 individuals. The bill is orangish, but quickly turns dark. Forages by plunging headfirst into water from flight (often hovering first), and emerging immediately with fish held in bill. A former subspecies are now treated as a separate species called Cabot's tern (T. acuflavidus), which breeds on the Atlantic coasts of North America, northern and eastern South America, and has wandered to Western Europe. The Sandwich tern has an extensive global range estimated at 100,000–1,000,000 km2 (39,000–386,000 sq mi). Harsh grating calls similar to other terns. The Mississippi River Delta provides a safe haven for much of the world's population of Sandwich Terns, Seaside Sparrows and other species. In winter, the adult Sandwich tern's forehead becomes white. Its short legs are black. See more images of this species in Macaulay Library. They have long, pointed wings, which gives them a fast buoyant flight, and often a deeply forked tail. The sandwich tern's weight ranges from 180-300 g (6.3-10.6 oz)[5]. Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. It nests in a ground scrape and lays one to three eggs. Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family:Laridae). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as least concern. Help power unparalleled conservation work for birds across the Americas, Stay informed on important news about birds and their habitats, Receive reduced or free admission across our network of centers and sanctuaries, Access a free guide of more than 800 species of North American birds, Discover the impacts of climate change on birds and their habitats, Learn more about the birds you love through audio clips, stunning photography, and in-depth text. Sometimes catches insects in flight. Juveniles have a mottled black-and-gray back and a dark rear crown patch. Might be thought of as the Royal Tern's sidekick; typically found with that species, usually even nesting in mixed colonies with it, but tends to be less numerous. It nests in a ground scrape and lays one to three eggs. South American birds have an all-yellow bill. Strictly coastal in the southeastern states. It usually dives directly, and not from the "stepped-hover" favoured by Arctic terns. The Gull-billed Tern is stockier and has a stout, entirely black bill. Its upperwings are pale grey and its underparts white, and this tern looks very pale in flight, although the primary flight feathers darken during the summer.[6]. Sandwich terns are of breeding age when they are about 3 - 4 years old. Young birds bear grey and brown scalloped plumage on their backs and wings. This species breeds in very dense colonies on coasts and islands, and exceptionally inland on suitable large freshwater lakes close to the coast. Strictly coastal in the southeastern states. Very rare inland except in Florida, where occasional in migration and after storms. The Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)[2] is a tern in the family Laridae. Photo: Lorraine Minns/Audubon Photography Awards. Slender tern with a long black bill with a pale tip, although pale tip can be difficult to see. Shows a shaggy black cap in breeding plumage; nonbreeding birds develop white forehead. It is very closely related to the lesser crested tern (T. bengalensis), Chinese crested tern (T. bernsteini), Cabot's tern (T. acuflavidus), and elegant tern (T. elegans) and has been known to interbreed with the lesser crested. Shaggy crested tern with a pale-tipped black bill. A slim, long-billed tern, swift and graceful in flight. Young: If colony subject to disturbance, young may leave nest after a few days and gather in group (called "creche") with others. Larger than the typical terns of the Forster's / Common sort, but distinctly smaller than Royal or Caspian terns. Withdraws in winter from most of Atlantic Coast north of Florida. Lorraine Minns/Audubon Photography Awards. It breeds in the Palearctic from Europe to the Caspian Sea wintering to South Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. This is a medium-large tern, 37–43 cm (15–17 in) long with an 85–97 cm (33–38 in) wingspan, which is unlikely to be confused within most of its range, although the South American race could be confused with the elegant tern. Another Reason to Like Lyrebirds: They Move Tons of Dirt, Keeping Forests Healthy, Duck Stamp Artists Turn to Spent Shotgun Shells to Meet New Pro-Hunting Mandate, A New Plastic Wave Is Coming to Our Shores, Three Ways You Can Do Bird Science From Your Couch, How Nature Journaling Can Make You a Better Birder, Virginia’s Largest Seabird Colony Relocates to New Temporary Home, New Study Reveals Louisiana Coast Supports Globally Significant Numbers of Waterbirds, Shorebirds and Marshbirds. A bird of marine coasts of the southeastern United States and the Caribbean, the Sandwich Tern is readily identified by its shaggy crest and yellow-tipped black bill. Photo: Howard Arndt/Audubon Photography Awards, Great Egret. A slim, long-billed tern, swift and graceful in flight. Unlike some of the smaller white terns, it is not very aggressive toward potential predators, relying on the sheer density of the nests—often only 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) apart and nesting close to other more aggressive species such as Arctic terns and black-headed gulls to avoid predation. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too. Sandwich Tern. It is a vocal bird. Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Nests in colonies, very often associated with Royal Terns. Visit your local Audubon center, join a chapter, or help save birds with your state program. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. The lesser crested tern and elegant tern differ in having all-orange bills; lesser crested also differs in having a grey rump and marginally stouter bill, and elegant in having a slightly longer, slenderer bill. Some say the tip looks like it's been dipped in mayonaise, obviously a reference to sandwich the food item. Thalasseus sandvicensis . This bird has no subspecies. 1-2, rarely 3. Favors warm waters near coastlines, often fairly shallow areas such as bays and estuaries near extensive beaches, mudflats. Photo: Dick Dickinson/Audubon Photography Awards, Breeding adults. Breeding / Nesting. Illustration © David Allen Sibley. Along much of Gulf Coast, more common in summer than winter, indicating some southward migration from there. On ground, male feeds fish to female; both birds may point bills up, droop wings, turn heads from side to side. Remain with parents another 4 months is part of the courtship display the adult Sandwich tern thin. 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