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Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Winter adult Sandwich Tern

General Description: Sandwich Terns (Thalasseus sandvicensis) are small, pale terns with a forked tail and a slender black bill tipped with yellow. They have a bit of a shaggy black crest. In flight, shows a bit of black in the outer primaries.

This species has differing winter and summer plumage. In breeding plumage, Sandwich Terns have a jet-black cap that extends from the top of the bill to the back of the head. During winter, they lose most of the black feathers in the cap, resulting in a white forehead with a band of black around the edge of the head.

Taxonomy: Charadriiformes, Laridae, Sterninae. Formerly Sterna sandvicensis.

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Note yellow tip on black bill

Favored Habitat: Coastal waters with small fish.

Where to Find: Don't look for Sandwich Terns around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them on trips to the coast. Most Sandwich Terns breed along coastal waters on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Occasional on the southern California coast during winter.

Comments:

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) If you were a tasty little fish or perhaps a tender shrimp, this might be the last face you ever see!
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern with Marbled Godwit
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern with Laughing Gull and Willet
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern; Dunedin, Florida
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern; Dunedin, Florida
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern catching a little fish
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern carrying little fish
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern flicking little fish into the air
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
In mid-air, re-catching little fish that was flicked into the air
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240113
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