# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Royal Tern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Royal_Tern_-_Thalasseus_maximus_%2833285813120%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: EyeLoveBirds from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Tern_-_Thalasseus_maximus_%2833285813120%29.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Laridae - **Genus:** Thalasseus ## 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 - **Eagle-Eyed Fisher:** Royal Terns can spot fish from high in the air because of their incredibly sharp vision, helping them catch prey. - **Saltwater Sipper:** Royal Terns can drink ocean water because special glands remove excess salt, keeping them hydrated at sea. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/herring-gull) (*Larus argentatus*) — Opportunistic predator of their eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Often raids their ground nests for food. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## 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 ## Where to spot - [Brunswick Old Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brunswick-old-town-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Miami Beach Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-beach-botanical-garden) — US · Botanical Garden - [Presidio Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/presidio-park) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Battles Wharf Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battles-wharf-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Boca Chita Key Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boca-chita-key-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Collins Waterfront Architectural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/collins-waterfront-architectural-district) — Florida, US · Historic District [View all places to see Royal Tern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/royal-tern) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Royal Tern: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/royal-tern)