E-mail to a friendE-newsletterContact us
HomeAbout usAdviceBirdsJoinOur workReservesSupport usShopThings to do
  • Overview
  • Awards & recognition
  • Contact us
  • Facts and figures
  • History
  • How we are run
  • Inspiring work
  • Job vacancies
  • Looking to the future
  • Media centre
  • Offices
  • The RSPB view
  • What we do
  • Overview
  • Farming
  • Gardening
  • Green living
  • Helping birds
  • Land management
  • Law
  • Watching birds
  • Overview
  • Aren't birds brilliant!
  • Birds by name
  • Birds by family
  • Bird identifier
  • Features
  • Reserves
  • Webcams
  • Wildlife garden guide
  • Overview
  • Campaigns
  • Corporate membership
  • Credit card
  • Donations
  • Fundraising
  • Gift Aid
  • Shop
  • Green energy
  • Holidays in the UK
  • Join the RSPB
  • Leave a legacy
  • Recycle your mobile phone
  • Share giving
  • Vehicle breakdown cover
  • Overview
  • Join now
  • Why join?
  • Membership as a gift
  • Membership benefits
  • Renewals
  • Other ways to support us
  • Overview
  • Great days out
  • By habitat
  • By name
  • By location
  • Recent sightings
  • Shops on reserves
  • Overview
  • Around the UK
  • Conservation
  • Document library
  • Farming
  • International
  • Job vacancies
  • News
  • Media centre
  • Policy
  • Reserves
  • Science
  • Teaching
  • Shop homepage
  • Binoculars
  • Bird care accessories
  • Bird feeders
  • Bird food
  • Bird tables and baths
  • Books, DVDs and CDs
  • Garden
  • Homeware
  • Prints and canvases
  • Toys
  • Virtual gifts
  • Wildlife care
  • Shops on reserves
  • Overview
  • Near you
  • Events
  • E-newsletter
  • Fundraising
  • Local groups
  • Reserves
  • Surveys
  • Volunteering
  • Webcams
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Sandwich tern adults feeding sand eel to chick aerial view of RSPB Hodbarrow reserve Sandwich tern in flight
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Sandwich tern

Amber conservation status

Sound files

Listen

Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player.

Latin name

Sterna sandvicensis

Family

Terns (Sternidae)

Overview

The Sandwich tern is a very white tern, with a black cap on its head, a long black bill with a yellow tip and short black legs. In flight it shows grey wedges on its wings tips and it has a short forked tail. In the UK, many of the important colonies survive because they are on nature reserves.

Where to see them

There are colonies of Sandwich terns scattered around the UK coasts including the North Norfolk coast; Minsmere, Suffolk; and Dungeness, Kent.

When to see them

From late March to September.

What they eat

Fish such as sandeels, sprats and whiting.

Estimated numbers

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
-12,490 pairs--

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)

Print this page

3 illustrations

123

Illustrations
Sandwich tern

Sandwich tern

Sandwich tern - juvenile

Sandwich tern - juvenile

Sandwich tern - non-breeding plumage

Sandwich tern - non-breeding plumage

Similar birds

Arctic tern (illustration)

Arctic tern

Common tern (illustration)

Common tern

Roseate tern (illustration)

Roseate tern

Help the Sandwich tern

Join today and help us continue our conservation work to keep these birds safe.

About the RSPB

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. We rely upon memberships and donations to fund our work. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way. More...

Contact us

Visit our Contact us section for telephone numbers, office addresses and more.

Latest news

Vote for Henry!

A Wiltshire farmer is competing for the title of the nation’s favourite, in a competition aimed at recognising those doing the most for the UK’s wildlife.

Gardens not always rosy for wildlife

The RSPB is warning gardeners of the potential wildlife hazards lurking in their gardens.

Report highlights biofuels shambles

Less than 20 per cent of biofuels are meeting basic environmental standards, the Renewables Fuels Agency (RFA) has admitted today.

More news...

Add your voice for nature

As a charity, we rely on the support of members to continue our work protecting birds and wildlife.

Join now from only £2.84/month.

Free e-newsletter

Over 200,000 people enjoy our monthly e-mail newsletter.

Why not sign up?

Contact us
© 2008 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654
Privacy policy
Last published: 14/06/2008 02:00:06
Show/hide picture credits
Sandwich tern adults feeding sand eel to chick - Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com, Ref: 1614084_00048_002)
aerial view of RSPB Hodbarrow reserve - RSPB Images - David Wootton (rspb-images.com, Ref: D_2006_11536_0015 )
Sandwich tern in flight - Steve Round
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)