Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
(aka Sterna sandvicensis)
Sandwich Tern, Cayo Coco, Cuba, February 2005 - click for larger image Cayo Coco, Cuba
February 2005

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. Some North American birds winter in South America. Cuba has both breeding birds and winter migrants.

Sandwich Tern, Cayo Coco, Cuba, February 2005 - click for larger image In February all these birds are showing non-breeding plumage where the forehead is white. In breeding plumage the whole crown is black. You can see breeding plumage in some of my European shots here.

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.

Sandwich Tern, Cayo Coco, Cuba, February 2005 - click for larger image

There is an illustration in HBW, Volume 3, Page 644.

Sandwich Tern, Cayo Coco, Cuba, February 2005 - click for larger image
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