Sandwich Tern

Thalasseus sandvicensis

Also known as:Cabot's Tern, Sterna sandvicensis

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Identification

Field notes

38 cm (15") Uncommon. Atlantic coastal beaches and islands, often associating with Royal Terns.

Pigeon-sized. White head with a short crest; black cap; long, slender, black bill with a yellow tip - no other tern has such a bill; white underparts; pale gray mantle; long, slender wings with dark in tips; black legs. Similar Gull-billed Tern has shorter, stouter, all-black bill.

Winter adult, seen as early as July, similar but has white forehead.

Song: grating "kirr-ick".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: shell game

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Sandwich Tern feeding chick

Credit: RyeHarbourUK

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Sandwich Tern

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 3

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Yellow · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:559-sandwich-tern:1:1 Source: 559 Sandwich Tern, row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Forked · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Yellow · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Gull-like, or a Seabird
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:559-sandwich-tern:2:1 Source: 559 Sandwich Tern, row 2