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To the Beauty of Birds

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

Royal Tern

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