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Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis   [Latham, 1787]
Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae
BTO Codes: TE , SANTE EURING No: 6110
Number in Britain: 11 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: AMBER
European: 2 Concern, most in Europe; Depleted
Global: Least Concern
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Status in UK: (A)  Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: sandvicensis (BW), acuflavida (V) recorded in Britain (of 3 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 38 cm Wingspan: 100 cm Weight: M/F: 250 g    
Scientific name from: Old English: stearn=a tern and after Sandwich, Kent (UK)
World Distribution: BREEDS: Europe, s North America & n South America, WINTERS: south to s Africa, India & se South America
Habitat: Sandy seacoasts, in winter estuaries
Diet: Mostly fish by plunge-diving
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Population and Distribution
Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Help with the New Atlas)   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 11 thousand pairs in 1998-02
    First Record: 1671 [Fossil evidence from
    Latest Survey: Mitchell, P.I. et al. (2004) Seabird populations of Britain and Ireland Poyser, London
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
Average Day of First Arrival: 27 Mar
European Population Size:
    Summer: 67 to 100 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II*), AEWA
Survey Results: BirdTrack
Seabird 2000 (warning: link to large pdf)
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Breeding and Survival
Egg Size: 51 x 36 mm Egg Weight: 35.0 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 37
Clutch Size: 1 - 2 eggs
Incubation: 21 - 29 days by the: Male + Female
Fledging: 28 - 30 days as: Semi-precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid: Unavailable
Number of Broods: 1

Number Ringed: 2091
Adult Survival: No data Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 3 years Typical Lifespan: No data
Maximum Recorded Age: 30yr9m
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Biometrics
Ring Size: D2
Wing Length Adult: 305.8 ± 6.9 Range 295 - 316 mm, N =30
Juvenile: 298.1 ± 6.9 285 - 305 mm, N =24
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data
Weight Adult: 238.9 ± 14.47 Range 214.0 - 261.0 g , N =32
Juvenile: 226.2 ± 17.65 198.0 - 253.0 g , N =46
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
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Other Names
Gaelic: Steàrnag-mhòr Welsh: Morwennol Bigddu
Danish: Splitterne Dutch: Grote stern
Finnish: Riuttatiira French: Sterne caugek
German: Brandseeschwalbe Hungarian: Kenti csér
Icelandic: Þaraþerna Irish: Geabhróg Scothdhubh
Italian: Beccapesci Norwegian: Splitterne
Polish: Rybitwa czubata Portuguese: Garajau-comum
Spanish: Charrán patinegro Swedish: Kentsk tärna
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For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
   Marples, G. & Marples, A. 1934 The sea terns or sea swallows Country Life Books, London [598.616 MAR]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
Selected scientific papers published 1980-2005
Find more papers on Google Scholar
Find more papers on Scirus

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BirdWeb logo, click to go to BirdWeb BirdFacts home | BTO Home
Email: birdfacts@bto.org

These data should be cited as:
Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)

 

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