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Royal tern

Thalasseus maximus

Photo by Maria dB
Published on Project Noah
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34.4696, -77.4719

Field Notes

Description:

The Royal Tern, the second-largest tern, has a red-orange bill and a black cap on the top of its head during the breeding season, but in the winter the cap becomes patchy.Juveniles have a more yellow bill. Its legs are black.

Habitat:

This bird is only found along ocean beaches.. The Royal Tern is found in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean islands. For those on the East coast of America, the wintering range is from North Carolina south to Panama and the Guianas, also the Caribbean islands.

Reference Links:

Royal Tern, Royal Tern, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
Maria dB
Thank you, Atul. YorkieSutaryo: I sat and watched this flock of birds for an hour, hoping to see interesting behavior and was rewarded. When one got a fish, others would chase it; I have some where one is being pursued in the air by several others until it finally drops its meal!
Atul
lovely series!!

Spotted for Missions

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Birds of the World
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Hunters & Animal Food Habits
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 1, 2012

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