Birds
Sterna sandvicensis, Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

45
18 hours ago
Spotted
The Sandwich Tern is a medium-sized, elegant tern with a distinctive shaggy black crest and a black bill with a yellow tip. Highly vocal and social, they are often seen in bustling colonies during the breeding season.
Where to spot
Found along coastal areas, beaches, estuaries, and salt marshes across Europe, Africa, and North America. They breed along temperate and tropical coasts worldwide.
How to spot
Look for their characteristic plunge-diving for fish in shallow coastal waters. Their distinctive high-pitched call and the unique black-tipped yellow bill are key identification features. Observe large flocks resting on sandy beaches or mudflats.
When to spot
Best observed during their breeding season from spring to summer when they form large nesting colonies. Otherwise, they can be seen year-round in warmer regions or along migration routes.
Sterna sandvicensis, Sandwich Tern
Sandwich Tern, Sterna sandvicensis
18402 Grote Stern / Sandwich Tern
Sterna sandvicensis, Sandwich Tern
Credits: f_snarfel
Sandwich Tern, Sterna sandvicensis
Credits: f_snarfel
18402 Grote Stern / Sandwich Tern
Credits: Vlaskop
The Sandwich Tern gets its name from Sandwich, Kent, England, where it was first scientifically identified and described.
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Spotted

Recently spotted
5556 (Seen in the last 3 months)
Last spotted
18 hours ago

Monthly observations

8 observations
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Simeon
Simeon
2 months ago
Sandwich Tern
De Cocksdorp, Noord-Holland
Spotted Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
+65
Lifer
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wasRuben
wasRuben
2 months ago
Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
+65
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Gerrita
Gerrita
2 months ago
Sandwich Tern
Wezep, Gelderland
Spotted Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
+65
Lifer
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Stefan
Stefan
2 months ago
Sandwich Tern
Schoorl, Noord-Holland
Spotted Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
+65
Lifer
Laagvlieger
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Patricia
Patricia
2 months ago
Sandwich Tern
Schoorl, Noord-Holland
Spotted Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
+33
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Judith
Judith
2 months ago
Sandwich Tern
Schoorl, Noord-Holland
Spotted Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
+65
Lifer
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Bert
Bert
2 months ago
Sandwich Tern
Schoorl, Noord-Holland
Spotted Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
+65
Lifer
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Patricia
Patricia
4 months ago
Sandwich Tern
Schoorl, Noord-Holland
Spotted Sandwich Tern
Spotted Sandwich Tern
+65
Lifer
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