The Sandwich Tern does not occur there; in this case, its specific name refers to Sandwich, Kent, Latham's type locality. Most breeding adults (three years and older) and some first- and second-year birds begin to return north from February.
It is a vocal bird. It nests in a ground scrape and lays one to three eggs. It is a vocal bird. The eggs varied as much in colour as those of the Arctic Tern and Foolish Guillemot and were equally disproportionate to the size of the bird, their average length being two inches and one-eighth, their greatest breadth one inch and three and a half eighths. What they eat: Fish such as sandeels, sprats and whiting. The Sandwich Tern breeds in dense colonies on coasts and islands and nests along the coast as well as alongside freshwater lakes close to the coast. Larger than the typical terns of the Forster's / Common sort, but distinctly smaller than Royal or Caspian terns. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "SandwichTern" Flickr tag. It has a wingspan of about 35 inches. It nests in a ground scrape and lays one to three eggs. Young birds bear grey and brown scalloped plumage on their backs and wings. Bill and legs olive brown. The eggs are often destroyed by sand crabs; or taken by Laughing Gulls and Ruddy Turnstones. 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. Black-headed Gulls prey on the eggs and chicks.
Both sexes incubate and they are monogamous, colonial nesters. Young birds bear grey and brown scalloped plumage on their backs and wings. Sandwich Terns are present all year along the Texas coast, although in winter they are rare to uncommon. The diet of Sandwich Terns mostly consists of small fish, such as sand eels, sprats and whitings found around estuaries, lagoons and mangroves. In flight it shows grey wedges on its wings tips and it has a short forked tail. 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. Thalasseus sandvicensis.

On the 26th of May, 1832, while sailing along the Florida Keys in Mr. THRUSTON's barge, accompanied by his worthy pilot and my assistant, I observed a large flock of Terns, which, from their size and other circumstances, I would have pronounced to be Marsh Terns, had not the difference in their manner of flight convinced me that they were of a species hitherto unknown to me. They feed by plunging headfirst into the water from flight, … Young birds bear grey and brown scalloped plumage on their backs and wings. The Sandwich Tern adult in breeding plumage has pale grey back and upperwing, whereas rump and forked tail are white. Head sides, chin and throat are white. They may also take squid, shrimp and crabs. It nests in a ground scrape and lays one to three eggs.

Back to Terns and Skimmers . BREEDING HABITAT. However, Sandwich Tern eggs are noticeably smaller. More. Mating Sandwich Terns. Sandwich tern chicks has been studied in detail by Langham (1974) and Veen (1977). The wings are long and pointed. Dip two slices of bread in the egg mixture, then flip over and place in the skillet.

It has gray and white plumage.

Diet / Feeding. Sandwich Tern. Crest plumage is longer and more shaggy than that of Sandwich Tern. The Sandwich Tern is usually placed in the genus Sterna, but Moynihan (1959) related it to the crested 'Tkalasseus' terns and certainly its breeding behaviour seems more akin to that of such species as the Royal Tern S. maxima (Buckley and Buckley 1972) and Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia (Bergman 1953) than to that of the smaller Sterna terns. 2 whole eggs; 2 slices of bread; Butter or oil for your pan; Cheese and bacon, optional; Instructions. Future threats to breeding Sandwich Terns include predation by a variety of mammals and birds, and human disturbance. This species is a common to rare winter resident within the distribution shown and also breeds in Europe. Tweet; Description: This is a medium sized tern. Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis 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.