General

Sandwich Tern: Only medium-sized tern with long slender black bill tipped with yellow; upperparts are very pale gray, nearly white, and underparts are white. Black crown has a short black crest. White tail is deeply forked; legs and feet are black. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has white forehead and darker primaries. Juvenile has faint streaking on weakly crested crown, gray chevrons on upperparts, and paler bill.

Range and Habitat

Sandwich Tern: Atlantic coast north to Virginia, and entire Gulf Coast.

Breeding and Nesting

Sandwich Tern: Monogamous; colonial, often mixed with other terns, especially Royal Terns. Simple nest on coastal beaches and islands, in the open above tidemark, unlined or lined with debris; One to three white to pink eggs with brown, black, and gray markings. Incubation ranges from 21 to 29 days and is carried out by both sexes; first flight at 28 to 32 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Sandwich Tern: Prefers to feed at sea; Usually hovers, then dives from great heights to catch prey under water. Eats small fish, squid and shrimp.

Vocalization

Sandwich Tern: Aburpt whistle, grating "gwit gwit," and "skir-rick." Also yelping "kehk," and slightly reedy "ki-i wii-wii."

Similar Species

Sandwich Tern: Royal Tern is larger, plumper, with heavier, orange bill. Gull-billed Tern lacks crest and has stubbier bill and less forked tail.