Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) is in the Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers family (Laridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 7,229 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Sandwich Tern: observations by month (U.S.)
About Sandwich Tern
The Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) is a tern in the family Laridae. It is very closely related to the lesser crested tern (T. bengalensis), Chinese crested tern (T. bernsteini), Cabot's tern (T. acuflavidus), and elegant tern (T. elegans) and has been known to interbreed with the lesser crested.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Sandwich Tern by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 3,166 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Texas | 2,315 | April | Mar–May |
| North Carolina | 390 | August | May–Oct |
| Louisiana | 315 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Alabama | 306 | August | Apr–Sep |
| South Carolina | 293 | May | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 128 | August | May–Sep |
| Mississippi | 113 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Georgia | 112 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Maryland | 55 | August | Aug–Aug |
| New York | 12 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | 9 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Delaware | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Western Gull
American Herring Gull
Royal Tern
Forster's Tern
California Gull
Caspian Tern
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sandwich Tern?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to November.
Where is Sandwich Tern most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Texas, North Carolina.