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''Sterna sandvicensis'' | ''Sterna sandvicensis'' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | + | 36–46 cm (14¼-18 in) | |
*Thin black bill with pale yellow tip | *Thin black bill with pale yellow tip | ||
*Black legs | *Black legs | ||
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Like the other ''Thalasseus'' terns, this species is was formerly often placed in the genus ''[[:Category:Sterna|Sterna]]''. | Like the other ''Thalasseus'' terns, this species is was formerly often placed in the genus ''[[:Category:Sterna|Sterna]]''. | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | Three subspecies are generally recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
*''T. s. sandvicensis'' breeds on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of [[Europe]] and winters on the west coast of [[Africa]]. | *''T. s. sandvicensis'' breeds on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of [[Europe]] and winters on the west coast of [[Africa]]. | ||
*''T. s. acuflavidus'' breeds on Atlantic coasts of [[North America]] and winters on Caribbean coasts. | *''T. s. acuflavidus'' breeds on Atlantic coasts of [[North America]] and winters on Caribbean coasts. | ||
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According to a recent study (Efe ''et al''., 2009) ''acuflavidus'' (including subspecies ''eurygnathus'') should be treated as separate species, '''Cabot's Tern''' ''Thalasseus acuflavidus''; genetic data showed it to be more closely related to [[Elegant Tern]] than to Sandwich Tern. It differs in a stouter bill, with in South American populations an increasing amount of yellow in the bill. There are also differences in timings of wing moult. In the past, the populations with all or mostly yellow bills were sometimes treated as a separate species, Cayenne Tern ''T. eurygnathus'', but Efe ''et al''. concluded these were very close to Cabot's Tern. | According to a recent study (Efe ''et al''., 2009) ''acuflavidus'' (including subspecies ''eurygnathus'') should be treated as separate species, '''Cabot's Tern''' ''Thalasseus acuflavidus''; genetic data showed it to be more closely related to [[Elegant Tern]] than to Sandwich Tern. It differs in a stouter bill, with in South American populations an increasing amount of yellow in the bill. There are also differences in timings of wing moult. In the past, the populations with all or mostly yellow bills were sometimes treated as a separate species, Cayenne Tern ''T. eurygnathus'', but Efe ''et al''. concluded these were very close to Cabot's Tern. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:7D2 1122 b 900.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Joe52|Joe52}}<br />Bournemouth, [[Dorset]], September 2016]] | |
There are single records of transatlantic vagrants of ''T. s. sandvicensis'' in North America and ''T. s. acuflavidus'' in Europe, in both cases ringed birds which allowed confirmed identification at a time when field identification between them was still poorly researched. | There are single records of transatlantic vagrants of ''T. s. sandvicensis'' in North America and ''T. s. acuflavidus'' in Europe, in both cases ringed birds which allowed confirmed identification at a time when field identification between them was still poorly researched. | ||
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''[[Media:Sterna sandvicensis (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Sterna sandvicensis (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | # | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966 |
#Efe, M. A., Tavares, E. S., Baker, A. J. & Bonatto, S. L. (2009). Multigene phylogeny and DNA barcoding indicate that the Sandwich tern complex (Thalasseus sandvicensis, Laridae, Sternini) comprises two species. ''Mol. Phyl. Evol''. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24260014_Multigene_phylogeny_and_DNA_barcoding_indicate_that_the_Sandwich_Tern_complex_Thalasseus_sandvicensis_Laridae_Sternini_comprises_two_species 52: 263‑267]. | #Efe, M. A., Tavares, E. S., Baker, A. J. & Bonatto, S. L. (2009). Multigene phylogeny and DNA barcoding indicate that the Sandwich tern complex (Thalasseus sandvicensis, Laridae, Sternini) comprises two species. ''Mol. Phyl. Evol''. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24260014_Multigene_phylogeny_and_DNA_barcoding_indicate_that_the_Sandwich_Tern_complex_Thalasseus_sandvicensis_Laridae_Sternini_comprises_two_species 52: 263‑267]. | ||
#Wikipedia | #Wikipedia | ||
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#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 | #Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 | ||
#Arthur Grosset | #Arthur Grosset | ||
| + | #Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved September 2016) | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
Revision as of 21:40, 18 September 2016
- Thalasseus sandvicensis
Includes Cabot's Tern and Cayenne Tern
Sterna sandvicensis
Identification
36–46 cm (14¼-18 in)
- Thin black bill with pale yellow tip
- Black legs
- Feet have yellow soles[1]
- Light grey above with blackish wing tips. The rump and rather short forked tail is white. Underparts white (sometimes tinged creamy-pink).
Summer Adult: forehead, crown and nape black. Loose long feathers at the nape seem to form a crest in the wind or when excited.
Winter Adult black areas on the front and top of the head turn white and speckledy-grey on the crest. This happens as early as June.
Juvenile: speckled blackish-brown on mantle and wings, brown on forehead, crown and nape; white elsewhere. Bill is sometimes all black.
Distribution
Europe, Atlantic coasts of North and South America. A summer visitor to Britain.
Taxonomy
Like the other Thalasseus terns, this species is was formerly often placed in the genus Sterna.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are generally recognised[1]:
- T. s. sandvicensis breeds on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe and winters on the west coast of Africa.
- T. s. acuflavidus breeds on Atlantic coasts of North America and winters on Caribbean coasts.
- T. s. eurygnathus breeds and winters on the Atlantic coast of South America.
According to a recent study (Efe et al., 2009) acuflavidus (including subspecies eurygnathus) should be treated as separate species, Cabot's Tern Thalasseus acuflavidus; genetic data showed it to be more closely related to Elegant Tern than to Sandwich Tern. It differs in a stouter bill, with in South American populations an increasing amount of yellow in the bill. There are also differences in timings of wing moult. In the past, the populations with all or mostly yellow bills were sometimes treated as a separate species, Cayenne Tern T. eurygnathus, but Efe et al. concluded these were very close to Cabot's Tern.
There are single records of transatlantic vagrants of T. s. sandvicensis in North America and T. s. acuflavidus in Europe, in both cases ringed birds which allowed confirmed identification at a time when field identification between them was still poorly researched.
Habitat
Almost entirely marine. Breeds on shingly, sandy or rocky islands with a high degree of protection from land predators.
Behaviour
Flight
Strong flight, often quite high.
Breeding
Colonial nesters (often with Common, Arctic, or other terns), the nest is a ground scrape and they lay 1-3 eggs.
Diet
Its diet includes fish which it catches by plunging into the sea.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Sterna sandvicensis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Efe, M. A., Tavares, E. S., Baker, A. J. & Bonatto, S. L. (2009). Multigene phylogeny and DNA barcoding indicate that the Sandwich tern complex (Thalasseus sandvicensis, Laridae, Sternini) comprises two species. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 52: 263‑267.
- Wikipedia
- Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- Arthur Grosset
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved September 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Sandwich Tern. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Sandwich_Tern
External Links
