Project FeederWatch
Common Feeder Birds: Quick Info on Food Preferences
Bird Academy
All About Feathers
Living Bird Magazine
In Colombia, Shade-Grown Coffee Sustains Songbirds and People Alike
Bird Academy
Bird Song Hero
A sleek seabird of warm saltwater coasts, the Royal Tern lives up to its regal name with a tangerine-colored bill and ragged, ink-black crest against crisp white plumage. Royal Terns fly gracefully and slowly along coastlines, diving for small fish, which they capture with a swift strike of their daggerlike bills. They are social birds, gathering between fishing expeditions on undisturbed beaches and nesting in dense, boisterous colonies. In late summer and fall, Royal Terns lose most of their black crest and sport a white forehead.
More ID InfoRoyal Terns are often among the first birds a visitor sees at the seashore, along with species such as Laughing Gulls and Brown Pelicans. Listening for the distinctive call (ka-rreet!) is a good way to locate this species. Among the many species of terns at North American beaches, Royal Terns are among the largest, outsized only by the Caspian Tern.
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.