ComingsBirds.com/Birdgroups S-Z

To the Beauty of Birds

The Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus during breeding season has a black crown and an orange bill without the black tip seen in the Forester’s tern. Its bill is thinner than that of the Caspian Tern. During non-breeding season the crown is whitish over the forehead. These photos were taken at the Bolsa Chica Sanctuary, Huntington Beach, CA.

Unlike Forester’s Tern that look like it is wearing a black mask, in the non-breeding phase the black is swept to the back of the head. The 2000 series photos were taken at the Solona Beach near Merritt Island, FL.

The 00 series photos were taken in October at Cape May, NJ.

Royal Tern