Overview

Royal Tern: Large tern, pale gray upperparts; white face, neck, and underparts. Head has spiky, black crest and cap, and heavy, bright orange bill. Wings are black-tipped above and black-edged below; tail is deeply forked. Legs and feet are black. Hovers before plunge diving for prey.

Range and Habitat

Royal Tern: Breeds along coast from Maryland to Texas, wandering further south in summer. Spends winters from North Carolina and California southward. Prefers saltwater habitats such as coastal areas, beaches, bays, offshore areas; rarely found inland.

Breeding and Nesting

Royal Tern: One to four creamy buff to brown eggs with red brown markings are laid in a depression in sand or a cup of dead grass, usually built on a sandy or rocky island. Incubation ranges from 20 to 31 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Royal Tern: Feeds on small fish and aquatic invertebrates, including crabs, squid, and shrimp. Plunge dives to capture prey; occasionally pirates fish from other birds, especially Brown Pelicans.

Vocalization

Royal Tern: Gives harsh "kee-rare", similar to Caspian Tern but higher pitched.

Similar Species

Royal Tern: Elegant Tern is smaller, has a more slender red-orange bill that appears slightly drooped at tip, and longer shaggy crest that extends down nape. Caspian Tern has a thicker, red bill, dark wedge on outer portion of underwings, weaker forked tail, and near complete cap in winter and juvenile plumages.