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Royal Tern

Thalasseus maximus

The Royal Tern is a beautiful bird with a long, slender body and a striking black cap on its head. They love to dive into the ocean to catch fish and are often seen flying gracefully over coastal waters.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Royal Tern is a large, elegant tern with a striking orange-red bill. It has a shaggy black cap during breeding season that turns streaky white in winter. Its body is pale grey above and pure white below, with a slightly forked tail.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyLaridaeGenusThalasseus
Royal Tern
Photo: EyeLoveBirds from Vancouver, CanadaCC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗
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Royal Tern

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

15

Interesting facts

Royal Tern chicks are experts at hide-and-seek, blending perfectly with the sand!

Some Royal Terns fly thousands of miles from North to South America for winter!

Their striking orange-red bill is a giant fishing tool, perfectly designed for slippery fish!

These birds sometimes steal fish from other birds, like a sneaky pirate of the sky!

Special abilities

Ability

Eagle-Eyed Fisher

Royal Terns can spot fish from high in the air because of their incredibly sharp vision, helping them catch prey.

Ability

Saltwater Sipper

Royal Terns can drink ocean water because special glands remove excess salt, keeping them hydrated at sea.

Ability

Colony Protector

Royal Terns nest in dense colonies, which helps them protect their eggs and chicks from predators through sheer numbers.

Measurements & details

Length
45-56 cm
Wingspan
100-115 cm
Weight
0.3-0.45 kg
Lifespan
10-17 years
Speed
60 km/h
Clutch Size
1-2
Incubation
25-30 days
Migration Distance
7000 km

Diet & Feeding

These expert fisher-birds dive into the ocean to snatch up small, schooling fish!

Primary Foods

  • Atlantic Menhaden
  • Striped Anchovy
  • Mullet
  • Sardines

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

Hunts

Atlantic Menhaden

Brevoortia tyrannus

A key food source in coastal waters.

Hunts

Striped Anchovy

Anchoa hepsetus

A small schooling fish they often dive for.

Eaten by

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Opportunistic predator of their eggs and chicks.

Eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Often raids their ground nests for food.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Royal Tern?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Royal Tern?

45-56 cm

What is Royal Tern's wingspan?

100-115 cm

How much does Royal Tern weigh?

0.3-0.45 kg

How long does Royal Tern live?

10-17 years

How fast can Royal Tern move?

60 km/h

What does Royal Tern eat?

These expert fisher-birds dive into the ocean to snatch up small, schooling fish!

Where is Royal Tern usually found?

Coastal areas

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