Sandwich Tern
A species of Crested terns Scientific name : Thalasseus sandvicensis Genus : Crested terns
Sandwich Tern, A species of Crested terns
Botanical name: Thalasseus sandvicensis
Genus: Crested terns
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The sandwich Tern is a stunning seabird that makes a big impact. With its sleek black cap, white body, and gray wings, it's hard to miss. This bird is skilled at catching small fish by hovering over the water and using its long, slender bill. It's a medium-sized bird that moves with grace and ease, gliding effortlessly through the air. 
Size
34-41 cm (13.5-16 in)
Colors
Black
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
24 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
Sandwich Tern's diet consists primarily of small fish, such as sand eels, herring, menhaden, and crustaceans, which they catch by plunge-diving from up to 25 feet. Sandwich Tern may feed solitarily or in massive groups with other seabirds, especially when prey is plentiful. They also opportunistically eat insects like mayflies when available.
Habitat
Sandwich Tern's habitat largely consists of shallow marine environments near coasts such as waters off beaches, estuaries, lagoons, and inlets. They typically nest on sandy or coral island beaches, with a preference for areas devoid of dense vegetation and sometimes on rocky substrates. Their ranges extend to barrier islands and human-made structures particularly during migration and winter, but they usually stay close to the coastline and are rarely inland.
Nest Behavior
Sandwich Tern pairs select a nest site together, typically timing construction with little vegetation. Nesting includes scraping, adornment, and shared parental duties.
Nest Characteristics
The nest of sandwich Tern is a simple scrape in sand or shingle, often with added shells, averaging 6 inches wide and 1.3 inches deep.
Dite type
Piscivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
Sandwich Tern exhibit a complex social structure, often forming dense nesting colonies. Within these colonies, courting rituals are elaborate, involving both ground and aerial displays. During daily activities, sandwich Tern may display the catch of a fish as part of the courtship process. Pair bonded individuals engage in synchronized flight patterns, characterized by rapid ascent followed by a gliding descent, accentuated with vocalizations and distinctive wing postures. Habitat interaction includes group socialization on colony peripheries before forming strong pair bonds, indicative of their highly coordinated and communal lifestyle.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Shorebirds Family
Gulls Genus
Crested terns Species
Sandwich Tern 
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