The Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis, syn. Sterna sandvicensis[2], is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae.
The Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis, syn. Sterna sandvicensis[2], is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. The Sandwich Tern is a medium-large tern with grey upperparts, white underparts, a yellow-tipped black bill and a shaggy black crest which becomes less extensive in winter with a white crown. Young birds bear grey and brown scalloped plumage on their backs and wings. It is a vocal bird. It nests in a ground scrape and lays one to three eggs. Like all Thalasseus terns, the Sandwich Tern feeds by plunge diving for fish, usually in marine environments, and the offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display. Contrary to popular belief, the sandwich tern has no evolutionary adaptation to schoolyards and playgrounds, and does not particularly like sandwiches.
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Location: Farne Islands, UK
Photo credit: © John Betts / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: (thalasseus, family, sandvicensis, sandvicensis., sandwich, seabird, sterna, sternidae., syn., tern
