Tern (Royal)

A large, orange-billed tern, the Royal Tern is found only along ocean beaches. The Royal Tern breeds in large, dense colonies. Nests are sometimes washed away by storm tides, but the birds usually make a second attempt, often at a new location. This bird has fewer young than other terns but maintains its numbers wherever it has protection from disturbance. It feeds almost entirely on small fish, rather than the crustaceans and insects taken by most other terns.

Royals are crow size at about 18-21 with a long heavy yellow-orange to orange-red bill. Black cap, wispy crest, pales gray back and wings, and a white forehead. Tail moderately forked. Similar Caspian Tern has blood-red bill, darker forehead and under wing, and shorter tail.

Photographed in the wild, Naples, FL