Royal Tern Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesRoyal Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Large tern with pointed wings, a long forked tail, and a bright orange bill. Nonbreeding birds have a narrow often shaggy band at the back of the head.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, December 31, 2012Breeding adult
Large tern with a daggerlike orange bill. Breeding birds have a shaggy black crown that is sometimes held flat. Note black legs.
© Denny Swaby / Macaulay LibraryWest Bay, May 26, 2020Nonbreeding adult
Plunge dives into shallow water to capture fish and crustaceans such as shrimp.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryLouisiana, July 13, 2010Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding birds have a narrow often shaggy band at the back of the head.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, December 19, 2017Adult male and female
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 08, 2021Not all videos have sound
Immature
Immature birds have darker wingtips and a narrow shaggy crest.
© Etienne Artigau🦩 / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 09, 2017Juvenile
Juveniles are spotted with black and gray above with a partial cap. Note gray bar across the wings.
© S. K. Jones / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, July 18, 2017Breeding adult
Pale gray above with a long forked tail and pointed wings. Flies with strong rowing wingbeats.
© Mary Catherine Miguez / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, April 25, 2017Breeding adult
Social and colonial nesting waterbird found in groups year-round. Breeding adults have a shaggy black cap and a bright orange bill.
© Patrick Maurice / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, April 04, 2017Flock
Found along coastal warm waters and sandy beaches.
© Dave Spier / Macaulay LibraryNorth Carolina, April 19, 2006Similar SpeciesCaspian Tern
Breeding adult
Caspian Terns have a heavier and redder bill than Royal Terns which have a thinner and more orange bill. Caspians also have a dark tip on the bill that Royals don't have.
© Esme Rosen / Macaulay LibraryWestern Australia, July 28, 2014Similar SpeciesCaspian Tern
Breeding adult
In flight, note the darker color under the primaries on adult Caspian Terns, but not on adult Royal Terns.
© Kyle Blaney / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 13, 2015Similar SpeciesCaspian Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Caspian Terns have a heavier bill with a dusky tip, unlike Royal Terns that have a thinner orange bill without a dusky tip. Nonbreeding Caspians have a fuller black cap than nonbreeding Royals.
© António Gonçalves / Macaulay LibraryFaro, February 07, 2009Similar SpeciesElegant Tern
Breeding adult
Elegant Terns have a longer and thinner bill than Royal Terns.
© David Weber / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 07, 2014Similar SpeciesElegant Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adults have a wider black rear crown patch than nonbreeding Royal Terns. Also note the longer and thinner bill on Elegant Terns than on Royals.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 08, 2015Similar SpeciesForster's Tern
Breeding adult
Forster's Terns have a black tip on the bill that Royal Terns don't have. They also have orange legs unlike Royals, which have black legs.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 15, 2016Similar SpeciesForster's Tern
Nonbreeding adult
Forster's Terns are smaller than Royal Terns with a thinner bill. Nonbreeding adult Forster's Terns have a black bill, whereas nonbreeding Royals have an orange bill.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 15, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Tern
Breeding adult
Common Terns are smaller than Royal Terns with a thinner and shorter bill.
© Mikaela Kropp / Macaulay LibraryDelaware, August 10, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.