Head to head
Sandwich Tern vs Royal Tern
The Sandwich tern and royal tern are closely related, similarly crested terns that often breed alongside each other on sandy coastal colonies.
| Sandwich Tern | Royal Tern | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Thalasseus sandvicensis | Thalasseus maximus |
| Relative size | Smaller | One of the largest terns in the world |
| Bill colour | Black, yellow tip | Bright orange |
| Crest | Shaggy black crest | Shaggy black crest |
| Native range | Europe, Africa, Americas | Americas, West Africa |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Coastal | Coastal |
Sandwich Tern vs Royal Tern: common questions
Which is bigger, the Sandwich tern or the royal tern?
The royal tern is considerably bigger, ranking as one of the largest terns in the world, while the Sandwich tern, though closely related and similarly crested, is a noticeably smaller bird overall.
How can you tell a Sandwich tern from a royal tern?
The clearest difference is bill colour: the Sandwich tern has a black bill tipped with yellow, while the royal tern has a heavy, bright orange bill, alongside the royal tern's larger overall size.
Are the Sandwich tern and royal tern closely related?
Yes, both species belong to the same genus, Thalasseus, and share a similar shaggy black crest, though they differ substantially in size and bill colour and occupy somewhat different, if overlapping, coastal ranges.