Photo: MPF / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensis
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) is a member of the Laridae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 200 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Laridae Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
- Genus Thalasseus
- Species sandvicensis
Where it lives
Coastal northwest to southeastern Europe from British Isles and Baltic Sea to eastern Iberian Pen., Mediterranean, Black and eastern, southern Caspian seas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 200 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Laridae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sandwich Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Sandwich Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) is a species of bird in the Laridae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF coastal nw to se Europe from British Isles and Baltic Sea to e Iberian Pen., Mediterranean, Black and e, s Caspian seas.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 200 g, with a wing length of about 28.9 cm and a tail of around 12.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sandwich Tern?
The Sandwich Tern is a large bird that weighs around 200 g.
Where does the Sandwich Tern live?
The Sandwich Tern is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF coastal nw to se Europe from British Isles and Baltic Sea to e Iberian Pen., Mediterranean, Black and e, s Caspian seas, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Sandwich Tern belong to?
The Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) belongs to the Laridae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Sandwich Tern eat?
The Sandwich Tern hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Sandwich Tern migrate?
The Sandwich Tern is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Sandwich Tern endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Sandwich Tern make?
1 real field recording of the Sandwich Tern — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sandwich Tern's range?
The Sandwich Tern has a mapped global range of about 2.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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