The Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) is named after the town of Sandwich in Kent, England. The name “sandwich” comes from the Old English word “Sandwic,” which means “sandy harbor.” The Sandwich Tern was first described and named by the Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich in 1764. Brünnich named the tern after Sandwich because he collected the first specimen from that area.

Sandwich Terns are seabirds that breed in coastal areas and estuaries in Europe, North America, and parts of Africa. They have a distinctive black cap on their head, a white body, and a yellow-tipped black bill. These birds are known for their feeding behavior, where they dive headfirst into the water to catch fish. They are highly skilled at plunge-diving and can be observed hovering briefly before diving to catch their prey.

So, the Sandwich Tern is called “Sandwich Tern” because it was first collected and described near the town of Sandwich in England.