Pl. CXVII
The Birds · Plate CXVII
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
Laridae · Taxon 144539
| Length | 45–50 cm |
| Wingspan | 100–110 cm |
| Weight | 390–430 g |
Field marks
- Long, stout, daggerlike orange bill
- White face and underparts
- Pale silvery-gray back and upperwings
- Shaggy black crown or rear crest, depending on season
- Short black legs and dark eyes
- Long pointed wings and a forked tail
HabitatWarm coastal marine waters, especially shallow bays, lagoons, and estuaries; rests and nests on open sandy beaches and low-lying islands.
BehaviorSocial and often colonial; flies over shallow water and plunge-dives for small fish and crustaceans, then gathers in flocks to rest on open shores.
Palette
white plumagepale silver-gray wingsink-black cresttangerine-orange billblack legs