(aka Sterna sandvicensis)
There is an illustration in HBW, Volume 3, Page 644.
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| Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis (aka Sterna sandvicensis) |
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The Sandwich Tern breeds mainly on or near coasts around Europe including the Black Sea and Caspian Sea and along the Atlantic coasts of North and South America. West European birds winter mainly on the west coast of Africa as far south as the Cape of Good Hope tending to leave in late September and return in late March. Black Sea birds tend to winter round the Mediterranean. | |||
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From June/July onwards, the forehead becomes white so the first three photos taken in June show the birds in breeding plumage with their black cap while the 4th photo, taken in August shows the non-breeding plumage. The 5th photo is also taken in September and shows a 1st winter bird which does not have the distinctive yellow tip to the bill. | |||
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They are strictly coastal and feed almost entirely off
fish which they catch by plunge-diving from up to 10 metres above the surface of the sea. The second photo shows the bird hovering while looking for
prey while the 3rd photo shows an adult carrying fish back to the nest.
There is an illustration in HBW, Volume 3, Page 644. |
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