Royal Tern

A deep koorrr-rik unfurls from the throat, with blunt little barks tucked around it.

Year-round resident in the southeastern United States, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific coast of South America; northern Atlantic breeders migrate south in winter.

Open saltwater along ocean coasts, bays, estuaries, lagoons, sandy beaches, and offshore sandbars. Rarely ventures far inland.

Nests from late April to July on flat, sparsely vegetated beaches or shell banks; post-breeding dispersal begins midsummer, with winter flocks forming August–March.

The Royal Tern is a large, elegant seabird instantly recognizable by its shaggy black crest and long orange bill. It patrols warm coastal waters, plunging head-first to snatch fish near the surface. Gregarious at all seasons, it breeds in dense colonies on isolated beaches and islands, often mixing with other tern species.