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Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 1,200,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 3,410,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | - | |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | poor | Estimated | 2009 | |
| Population trend | Stable | - | ||
| Number of subpopulations | - | - | - | |
| Largest subpopulation | - | - | - | |
| Generation length (yrs) | 10.8 | - | - | - |
| Trend justification: The overall population trend is fluctuating, although some populations are stable, others have unknown trends (Wetlands International 2006). This species has undergone a small or statistically insignificant increase over the last 40 years in North America (data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven 2007) Note, however, that these surveys cover less than 50% of the species's range in North America. | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Algeria | Native | No | |||
| Angola | Native | No | |||
| Anguilla (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Antigua and Barbuda | Native | No | |||
| Argentina | Native | No | |||
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | Native | No | |||
| Azerbaijan | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Bahamas | Native | No | |||
| Bahrain | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Barbados | Native | No | |||
| Belgium | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Belize | Native | No | |||
| Benin | Native | No | |||
| Bermuda (to UK) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) | Native | No | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Vagrant | No | |||
| Brazil | Native | No | |||
| Bulgaria | Native | No | |||
| Cameroon | Native | No | |||
| Cape Verde | Native | No | |||
| Cayman Islands (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Côte d'Ivoire | Native | No | |||
| Chile | Native | No | |||
| Colombia | Native | No | |||
| Congo | Native | No | |||
| Congo, The Democratic Republic of the | Native | No | |||
| Costa Rica | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Croatia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Cuba | Native | No | |||
| Curaçao (to Netherlands) | Native | No | |||
| Cyprus | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Czech Republic | Vagrant | No | |||
| Denmark | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Djibouti | Vagrant | No | |||
| Dominica | Native | No | |||
| Dominican Republic | Native | No | |||
| Ecuador | Native | No | |||
| Egypt | Native | No | |||
| El Salvador | Native | No | |||
| Equatorial Guinea | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Eritrea | Native | No | |||
| Estonia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ethiopia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Faroe Islands (to Denmark) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Finland | Vagrant | No | |||
| France | Native | No | Yes | ||
| French Guiana | Native | No | |||
| Gabon | Native | No | |||
| Gambia | Native | No | |||
| Germany | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Ghana | Native | No | |||
| Gibraltar (to UK) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Greece | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Grenada | Native | No | |||
| Guadeloupe (to France) | Native | No | |||
| Guatemala | Native | No | |||
| Guinea | Native | No | |||
| Guinea-Bissau | Native | No | |||
| Guyana | Native | No | |||
| Haiti | Native | No | |||
| Honduras | Unknown | No | |||
| Hungary | Vagrant | No | |||
| Iceland | Vagrant | No | |||
| India | Native | No | |||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Iraq | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ireland | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Israel | Native | No | |||
| Italy | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Jamaica | Native | No | |||
| Jordan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kazakhstan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Kenya | Native | No | |||
| Kuwait | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Latvia | Native | No | |||
| Lebanon | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Liberia | Native | No | |||
| Libya | Native | No | |||
| Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of | Native | No | |||
| Malta | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Martinique (to France) | Native | No | |||
| Mauritania | Native | No | |||
| Mexico | Native | No | |||
| Montenegro | Vagrant | No | |||
| Montserrat (to UK) | Native | No | |||
| Morocco | Native | No | |||
| Mozambique | Native | No | |||
| Namibia | Native | No | |||
| Netherlands | Native | No | |||
| Nicaragua | Native | No | |||
| Nigeria | Native | No | |||
| Norway | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Oman | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Pakistan | Native | No | |||
| Palestinian Authority Territories | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Panama | Native | No | |||
| Peru | Native | No | |||
| Poland | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Portugal | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Puerto Rico (to USA) | Native | No | |||
| Qatar | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Romania | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Russia (European) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Saudi Arabia | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| São Tomé e Príncipe | Native | No | |||
| Senegal | Native | No | |||
| Serbia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Seychelles | Vagrant | No | |||
| Sierra Leone | Native | No | |||
| Sint Maarten (to Netherlands) | Native | No | |||
| Slovakia | Vagrant | No | |||
| Slovenia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Somalia | Vagrant | No | |||
| South Africa | Native | No | |||
| Spain | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Sri Lanka | Native | No | |||
| St Kitts and Nevis | Native | No | |||
| St Lucia | Native | No | |||
| St Martin (to France) | Unknown | No | |||
| St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Native | No | |||
| Sudan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Suriname | Native | No | |||
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway) | Vagrant | No | |||
| Sweden | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Switzerland | Native | No | |||
| Syria | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Tanzania | Native | No | |||
| Togo | Native | No | |||
| Trinidad and Tobago | Native | No | |||
| Tunisia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turkey | Native | No | |||
| Turkmenistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Ukraine | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| United Arab Emirates | Native | No | Yes | Yes | |
| United Kingdom | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Uruguay | Native | No | Yes | ||
| USA | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Venezuela | Native | No | |||
| Virgin Islands (to UK) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Virgin Islands (to USA) | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Western Sahara | Native | No | |||
| Yemen | Native | No | Yes | Yes |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | Oranjestad Reef Islands |  |
| Aruba (to Netherlands) | San Nicolas Bay Reef Islands | |
| 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 Comprida e Cananéia | |
| Brazil | Ilhas do Litoral Sul do Espírito Santo | |
| Bulgaria | Atanasovsko Lake | |
| Bulgaria | Pomorie Lake | |
| 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 | Ilôts de Trévorc'h | |
| France | Ile de Goulmedec | |
| France | Iles Chausey | |
| France | Iles de la Colombière, de la Nellière et des Haches | |
| France | Littoral Augeron | |
| France | Petite Camargue laguno-marine | |
| French Guiana | Amana | |
| French Guiana | Amana - Marine | |
| French Guiana | Connétable | |
| French Guiana | Connétable - Marine | |
| French Guiana | Plaine Kaw et Pointe Béhague | |
| Gambia | Niumi National Park | |
| Gambia | Tanji River (Karinti) Bird Reserve | |
| Ghana | Densu Delta Ramsar Site | |
| Ghana | Keta Lagoon Ramsar Site | |
| Ghana | Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site | |
| Ghana | Sakumo Lagoon Ramsar Site | |
| Ghana | Songor Ramsar Site | |
| Greece | Amvrakikos gulf | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay | |
| Ireland | Connemara Islands | |
| Jamaica | Black River Great Morass | |
| Kazakhstan | Tyulen’i (Seal) Islands | |
| Mauritania | Banc d'Arguin National Park | |
| Mauritania | Cap Blanc | |
| Morocco | Dakhla area | |
| Namibia | Sandwich Harbour | |
| Netherlands | Grevelingen | |
| Netherlands | Griend | |
| Netherlands | Texel: Schorren and Zeeburg | |
| Netherlands | Westerschelde and Saeftinghe | |
| Netherlands | Westplaat | |
| 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 | |
| Senegal | Delta du Saloum | |
| South Africa | False Bay Park (proposed) | |
| South Africa | Lower Berg river wetlands | |
| Spain | Albufera de Valencia marshes | |
| Spain | Chingudi-Bidasoa estuary | |
| Spain | Ebro delta | |
| Spain | Isla Cristina and Ayamonte marshes and Prado lagoon | |
| Spain | Llobregat delta | |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Mustique Island | |
| Tunisia | Kneiss | |
| Tunisia | Salines de Thyna | |
| Turkey | 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 | |
| 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 | Estuaries | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Estuaries | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Macroalgal/Kelp | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | suitable | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Pelagic | suitable | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Seagrass (Submerged) | major | breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | major | non-breeding |
| Marine Neritic | Subtidal Loose Rock/pebble/gravel | major | 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 |
| Altitude | 0 - 50 m | Occasional altitudinal limits |
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food (human) | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Food (human) | Whole | Eggs | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
| Sport | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | Subsistence, National | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Sterna sandvicensis. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
| Family | Laridae (Gulls and terns) |
| Species name author | Latham, 1787 |
| Population size | mature individuals |
| Population trend | Stable |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 1,200,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
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