LC
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Thalasseus sandvicensis (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously placed in the genus Sterna.

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
Cramp, S. and Simmons, K.E.L. (eds). 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
SACC. 2005 and updates. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2019 Least Concern
2018 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass 192 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 98,800,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 164,000,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 325000-430000 mature individuals poor estimated 2012
Population trend stable - suspected -
Generation length 10.8 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is estimated at 490,000-640,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). This roughly equates to 325,000-430,000 mature individuals. Within this, the European population is estimated at 79,900-148,000 pairs, which equates to 160,000-295,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall population trend is fluctuating, although some populations are stable, others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2015). In North America, this species has undergone a small or non-significant increase over the last 40 years (based on Partners in Flight; A. Panjabi in litt. 2017). The European population is fluctuating (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native
Angola extant native
Anguilla (to UK) extant native
Antigua and Barbuda extant native
Argentina extant native
Aruba (to Netherlands) extant native
Azerbaijan extant native yes yes
Bahamas extant native
Bahrain extant native yes yes
Barbados extant native
Belgium extant native yes
Belize extant native
Benin extant native
Bermuda (to UK) extant vagrant
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) extant native yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant vagrant
Brazil extant native
Bulgaria extant native yes
Cameroon extant native
Cape Verde extant native
Cayman Islands (to UK) extant native
Chile extant native
Colombia extant native
Congo extant native
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native
Costa Rica extant native yes
Côte d'Ivoire extant native
Croatia extant native yes
Cuba extant native
Curaçao (to Netherlands) extant native yes
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant vagrant
Denmark extant native yes yes
Djibouti extant vagrant
Dominica extant native
Dominican Republic extant native
Ecuador extant native
Egypt extant native
El Salvador extant native
Equatorial Guinea extant native yes
Eritrea extant native
Estonia extant native yes
Ethiopia extant vagrant
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) extant vagrant
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant vagrant
Finland extant vagrant
France extant native yes yes
French Guiana extant native
Gabon extant native
Gambia extant native
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Ghana extant native
Gibraltar (to UK) extant native yes
Greece extant native yes yes
Grenada extant native
Guadeloupe (to France) extant native
Guatemala extant native
Guinea extant native
Guinea-Bissau extant native
Guyana extant native
Haiti extant native
Honduras extant uncertain
Hungary extant vagrant
Iceland extant vagrant
India extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes yes
Iraq extant native yes
Ireland extant native yes
Israel extant native
Italy extant native yes yes
Jamaica extant native
Jordan extant native yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native
Kuwait extant native yes yes
Latvia extant native
Lebanon extant native yes yes
Liberia extant native
Libya extant native
Malta extant native yes
Martinique (to France) extant native
Mauritania extant native
Mexico extant native
Montenegro extant vagrant
Montserrat (to UK) extant native
Morocco extant native
Mozambique extant native
Namibia extant native
Netherlands extant native yes
Nicaragua extant native
Nigeria extant native
North Macedonia extant native yes
Norway extant native yes
Oman extant native yes yes
Pakistan extant native
Palestine extant native yes yes
Panama extant native
Peru extant native
Poland extant native yes yes
Portugal extant native yes yes
Puerto Rico (to USA) extant native
Qatar extant native yes yes
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (European) extant native yes
São Tomé e Príncipe extant native
Saudi Arabia extant native yes yes
Senegal extant native
Serbia extant vagrant
Seychelles extant vagrant
Sierra Leone extant native
Sint Maarten (to Netherlands) extant uncertain
Slovakia extant vagrant
Slovenia extant native yes
Somalia extant vagrant
South Africa extant native
Spain extant native yes yes
Sri Lanka extant native
St Barthelemy (to France) extant native
St Kitts and Nevis extant native
St Lucia extant native
St Martin (to France) extant uncertain
St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) extant vagrant yes
St Vincent and the Grenadines extant native
Sudan extant native yes
Suriname extant native
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) extant vagrant
Sweden extant native yes
Switzerland extant native
Syria extant native yes
Tanzania extant native
Togo extant native
Trinidad and Tobago extant native
Tunisia extant native yes
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) extant native yes
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes yes
United Kingdom extant native yes
Uruguay extant native yes
USA extant native yes
Venezuela extant native
Virgin Islands (to UK) extant native yes
Virgin Islands (to USA) extant native yes
Western Sahara extant native
Yemen extant native yes yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Argentina Bahía San Blas, Bahía Anegada y Bahía Unión
Argentina Complejo Islote Lobos - Punta Pozos
Argentina Península Valdés, Punta León y Punta Loma
Aruba (to Netherlands) Oranjestad Reef Islands
Aruba (to Netherlands) San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands
Azerbaijan Kura Delta
Azerbaijan Pirsagat Islands and Los Island
Azerbaijan Shahdidi spit
Azerbaijan Yashma Island
Bahamas Cay Sal
Bahamas Great Inagua
Bahamas Guana Cays
Belgium Voorhaven Zeebrugge and Baai van Heist
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) Pelkermeer Saltworks, Bonaire
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) Washington-Slagbaai National Park, Bonaire
Brazil Ilhas do Litoral Sul do Espírito Santo
Bulgaria Atanasovsko Lake
Bulgaria Pomorie Lake
Colombia Complejo de Humedales Costeros de la Guajira
Croatia Kvarner Islands
Croatia NW Dalmatia and Pag Island
Croatia Western Istrian Maritime Zone
Cuba Cayería Centro - Oriental de Villa Clara
Denmark Eastern German Bight
Denmark Hirsholmene
Denmark Nissum Fjord
Denmark Odense Fjord
Denmark Ringkøbing Fjord
Denmark Skallingen and Langli
Dominican Republic Jaragua National Park
Estonia Pärnu bay (NEW)
Estonia Väinameri
France Archipel des Glénan
France Baie des Veys et Marais du Cotentin
France Baies de Morlaix et de Carantec
France Bassin d'Arcachon et Banc d'Arguin
France Camargue
France Cap Gris-nez
France Cordon lagunaire de Sète à Agde
France Estuaire et embouchure de la Seine
France Iles Chausey
France Iles de la Colombière, de la Nellière et des Haches
France Ilôts de Trévorc'h
France Jaudy et Sept-Iles
France Littoral Augeron
France Petite Camargue laguno-marine
French Guiana Amana
French Guiana Amana - Marine
French Guiana Connétable
French Guiana Plaine Kaw et Pointe Béhague
Gambia Niumi National Park
Germany Coast and lagoons of Western Pomerania
Germany Eastern part of German Bight (with Heligoland)
Germany Eastern part of Kiel Bight
Germany Greifswalder Bodden
Germany Großer and Kleiner Jasmunder Bodden with Schmachter See and Nonnensee
Germany Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Lower Saxonian North Sea off the East Frisian Islands
Germany Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (includes the Halligs, Kniepsand/Amrum, Lister Koog, Rantumbecken, Rickelsb
Germany Wagbach lowlands
Germany Wismar bay and Salzhaff
Ghana Densu Delta Ramsar Site and vicinity
Ghana Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site
Ghana Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site
Ghana Sakumo Lagoon Ramsar Site and vicinity
Ghana Songor Ramsar Site
Greece Amvrakikos gulf
Guinea-Bissau Arquipélago dos Bijagós
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Ireland Connemara Islands
Ireland Greer's Island (Massmount), Mulroy Bay
Ireland Lady's Island Lake
Ireland Lough Swilly including Blanket Nook and Inch Lake
Italy Argentario, Laguna di Orbetello Lagoon e Lago di Burano
Italy Cagliari wetlands
Italy Circeo National Park and Pontine islands
Italy Pantani di Vendicari e di Capo Passero
Italy Po Delta
Italy Simeto mouth and middle course and Biviere di Lentini
Italy Tarquinia saltpans
Italy Uccellina mountains, Trappola marshes and Ombrone mouth
Italy Valle Bertuzzi and Goro lagoon
Italy Valli di Comacchio and Bonifica del Mezzano
Italy Venice lagoon
Jamaica Black River Great Morass
Kazakhstan Tyulen’i (Seal) Islands
Mauritania Cap Blanc
Morocco Dakhla area
Namibia Sandwich Harbour
Netherlands Duinen en Lage Land Texel
Netherlands Grevelingen
Netherlands Haringvliet
Netherlands Mainland Coast
Netherlands Texel, Utopia
Netherlands Wadden Sea
Netherlands Westerschelde & Saeftinghe
Oman Barr al Hikman
Oman Duqm
Oman Masirah island
Oman Ras al Hadd
Poland Puck Bay
Poland Vistula river mouth
Puerto Rico (to USA) Suroeste
Romania Black Sea
Romania Danube Delta
Russia (European) Delta of the Kuban' river
Russia (European) Khanskoye Lake
Russia (European) Kiziltash limans
Russia (European) Maly Zhemchuzhny island
Russia (European) Sulakskaya bay
Russia (European) Yeiski salt-lakes
Saudi Arabia Abu Ali
Senegal Cap Vert
South Africa Berg River Estuary
South Africa False Bay Nature Reserve
Spain Albufera de Valencia marshes
Spain Cape Busto-Luanco
Spain Cape Candelaria-Ortigueira estuary-Cape Estaca de Bares
Spain Coast between Arinaga and Castillo del Romeral
Spain Costa da Morte
Spain Ebro delta
Spain Estrecho de Gibraltar
Spain Plataforma Marina del Delta del Ebro - Columbretes
Spain Sotavento beach
St Vincent and the Grenadines Mustique Island
Sweden Archipelago and coastline of North-East Scania
Tunisia Îles Kneiss
Tunisia Salines de Thyna
Türkiye Gediz Delta
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) Caicos Bank Southern Cays
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) Grand Turk Salinas and Shores
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) North, Middle and East Caicos Ramsar Site
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) Salt Cay Creek and Salinas
Ukraine Berdyans'ka peninsula
Ukraine Bilosarajs'ka peninsula
Ukraine Karkinits'ka and Dzharylgats'ka bays
Ukraine Kryva peninsula
Ukraine Kuyal'nyts'kyj lyman
Ukraine Obytichna peninsula
Ukraine Syvash Bay
Ukraine Yagorlyts'ka and Tendrivs'ka Bays
United Kingdom Carlingford Lough
United Kingdom Chichester and Langstone Harbours
United Kingdom Coquet Island
United Kingdom Dee Estuary
United Kingdom Duddon Estuary
United Kingdom Dungeness To Pett Levels
United Kingdom East Sanday
United Kingdom Farne Islands
United Kingdom Firth of Forth Islands
United Kingdom Larne Lough
United Kingdom Medway Estuary and Marshes
United Kingdom North Norfolk Coast
United Kingdom Poole Harbour
United Kingdom Solent Marshes and Southampton Water
United Kingdom Strangford Lough and islands
United Kingdom Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries
United Kingdom Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch
USA Altamaha River Delta
USA Big Foot Island
USA Big Marco Pass Shoal
USA Bird Key Stono
USA Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
USA Chandeleur Islands (Breton National Wildlife Refuge)
USA Deveaux Bank
USA Ferry Slip Island
USA Isles Dernieres - Timbalier Islands
USA Jigsaw Islands
USA Sand Bag Island
USA Sundown Island
USA Tomkins Island
Venezuela Parque Nacional Archipiélago Los Roques
Venezuela Pedernales-Capure
Venezuela Pedernales-Capure - Marine
Virgin Islands (to UK) Anegada: Western salt ponds and coastal areas
Virgin Islands (to USA) Saba Island and Cays

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Marine Intertidal Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable breeding
Marine Intertidal Rocky Shoreline major non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc major breeding
Marine Intertidal Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc major non-breeding
Marine Intertidal Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches major breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Back Slope suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Foreslope (Outer Reef Slope) suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Inter-Reef Rubble Substrate suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Inter-Reef Soft Substrate suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Lagoon suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Coral Reef - Outer Reef Channel suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Macroalgal/Kelp major breeding
Marine Neritic Macroalgal/Kelp major non-breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic suitable breeding
Marine Neritic Pelagic suitable non-breeding
Marine Neritic Seagrass (Submerged) major breeding
Marine Neritic Seagrass (Submerged) major non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel major breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel major non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs major breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Rock and Rocky Reefs major non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy major breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy major non-breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy-Mud major breeding
Marine Neritic Subtidal Sandy-Mud major non-breeding
Marine Oceanic Epipelagic (0-200m) marginal resident
Marine Oceanic Mesopelagic (200-1000m) marginal resident
Altitude 0 - 50 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Human intrusions & disturbance Recreational activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Sport hunting/specimen collecting subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sandwich-tern-thalasseus-sandvicensis on 09/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 09/12/2024.