I go for long strolls along the Mediterranean in Nice three or four times a week, usually around mid-day, when I’ll encounter Yellow-legged Gulls and Black-headed Gulls by the hundreds. So it was an absolute delight and pleasant surprise to join in a brief stare-off with a few Sandwich Terns a few weeks ago, just a stone’s throw from the balcony bar at the Negresco Hotel. (He didn’t seem too impressed with what he saw.)

I counted five hanging out with a dozen or so Black-Headed Gulls, mostly staring at each other, me, and on occasion towards the open sea. I observed them for a bit hoping they’d head out towards that afternoon’s calm Mediterranean and do some of their sensational plunge-diving, but my patience proved fuitless. This group didn’t seem interested in flying anywhere that particular mid-day. At least not during my post-lunch stroll.

They’re considered medium-sized terns,  36–41 cm (14–16 in) long with an 95–105 cm (37–41 in) wingspan, roughly the same as some of the Black-Headed Gulls they were mingling with. According to a few references, they begin regaining their black forehead in February or March; these photos were taken in late January illustrating that at least for some the spring moult was coming early.

They’re common in coastal area in many regions of the world, and both wintering and resident along the Mediterranean coast in France. I haven’t seen any in the five weeks since so I’m guess these were passing through.

Three more images below.

Sandwich Tern in brief (with assist from WordPress AI but double-checked by me at Birds of the World and Wikipedia):

• Size: Approximately 34-38 cm (13-15 inches) in length, with a wingspan of 80-90 cm (31-35 inches).
• Diet: Primarily feeds on small fish and marine invertebrates, using shallow dives to catch prey.
• Habitat: Prefers coastal habitats, including sandy beaches, estuaries, and mudflats, often nesting on islands.
• Physical Description: Characterized by a slender body, long pointed wings, a black cap on the head, and a distinctive dark bill with a yellow tip.
• Breeding: Breeds in colonies, typically laying 1-3 eggs in a scrape on the ground; breeding occurs in late spring to early summer.
• Conservation Status: Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though populations can be affected by habitat loss and human disturbance.
• Unique Behaviors: Known for its elegant flight and often engages in spectacular aerial displays during courtship.
• Range and Migration: Breeds in Europe and western Asia, migrating to Africa and southern Asia during the winter months.

Links for further reference:

• Sandwich Tern at Birds of the World
• Sandwich Tern at BirdLife DataZone
• Sandwich Tern at eBird
• Sandwich Tern at Avibase
• Sandwich Tern at Wikipedia
• Sandwich Tern at Oiseaux.net
• Sandwich Ternat iNaturalist

Photos from 22 January 2026, Nice, France.