[order] Charadriiformes | [family] Sternidae | [latin] Sterna maxima | [UK] Royal Tern | [FR] Sterne royale | [DE] Konigsseeschwalbe | [ES] Charran real | [IT] Sterna reale | [NL] Koningsstern
Subspecies
| Genus | Species | subspecies | Breeding Range | Breeding Range 2 | Non Breeding Range |
| Thalasseus | maximus | NA, LA, AF | coasts | ||
| Thalasseus | maximus | albididorsalis | Mauritania to Guinea | to Namibia | |
| Thalasseus | maximus | maximus | s California (USA) to Peru, Florida and West Indies to Argentina |
Physical charateristics
Second in size after the Caspian Tern in the tern family, the Royal Tern has a slender body, pointed wings and notched tail like other terns of smaller size. However, its bill is much wider and more powerful. Wings and back are pale grey, and underparts are white. In breeding plumage, top of head shows a black crown, which disappears partially in winter. However, crest on rear head remains in all seasons. Orange-red bill is long, pointed and wide. Short legs are black and thick, and feet are webbed. Both sexes are similar.
Juvenile resembles non breeding adult, with smaller pale yellow bill, some dark spots on back and darker wingtips.
Juvenile resembles non breeding adult, with smaller pale yellow bill, some dark spots on back and darker wingtips.
Listen to the sound of Royal Tern
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Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
| wingspan min.: | 107 | cm | wingspan max.: | 110 | cm |
| size min.: | 43 | cm | size max.: | 47 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 30 | days | incubation max.: | 31 | days |
| fledging min.: | 28 | days | fledging max.: | 35 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 1 | ||
| eggs max.: | 2 |
Range
Royal Tern breeds on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern United States and Mexico, into Caribbean. American terns winter southwards to Peru and Argentina. African birds move both north and south.
Habitat
Royal Tern lives in coastal bays, lagoons, harbours and sandy shores, but it may sail up a river outside of breeding season. It nests on off shore islands.
Reproduction
Royal Tern nests in large and noisy colonies, up to several thousands pairs. These colonies often are mixed or close to those of Caspian and Sandwich Terns. Pairs perform courtship displays in a nearby area, male flying slowly and soaring to the ground, and offering a prey to female. Once pair formed, both mates choose a free place to establish the nest, and circle widely several times over the site. Then, they scratch a shallow depression, adding sometimes some shells.
Male and female take turns to brood the single egg, but they can abandon it sometimes and for several hours. Both parents raise the young covered with brown and buff down.
On the American continent, chicks leave the nest 24 hours after hatching and gather into large creches when they are two or three days old.
In Africa, they remain at nest during one week, and take part to a creche at about 15 days after hatching.
Young remain within these creches until their first flights, and parents feed only their own young, recognizing it by its call.
Although the young tern is able to fly at one month, it remains dependent from its parents during five to eight month, for protection and feeding.
Male and female take turns to brood the single egg, but they can abandon it sometimes and for several hours. Both parents raise the young covered with brown and buff down.
On the American continent, chicks leave the nest 24 hours after hatching and gather into large creches when they are two or three days old.
In Africa, they remain at nest during one week, and take part to a creche at about 15 days after hatching.
Young remain within these creches until their first flights, and parents feed only their own young, recognizing it by its call.
Although the young tern is able to fly at one month, it remains dependent from its parents during five to eight month, for protection and feeding.
Feeding habits
Royal Tern feeds mainly at mid-tide, in the early morning and in late afternoon, but it also fishes at night during breeding period.
It flies at about 5 to 10 metres above the water, along the beaches, searching for fish and other preys. Royal Tern fishes alone or in pairs, but sometimes in flocks too. These groups may contain up to 150 birds.
Usually, it remains at about 100 metres from the shore, but when it searches for food for the chick, it may flies away up to 65 km from the colony, along the coast.
When a prey is located, it hovers just above this one, with bill pointed downwards. Then it dives vertically and catches the prey with its bill. Royal Tern feeds mainly on small fish, but it also consumes crabs, shrimps and squids. It also follows fish boats, in order to eat the debris ejected out of the boat.
It flies at about 5 to 10 metres above the water, along the beaches, searching for fish and other preys. Royal Tern fishes alone or in pairs, but sometimes in flocks too. These groups may contain up to 150 birds.
Usually, it remains at about 100 metres from the shore, but when it searches for food for the chick, it may flies away up to 65 km from the colony, along the coast.
When a prey is located, it hovers just above this one, with bill pointed downwards. Then it dives vertically and catches the prey with its bill. Royal Tern feeds mainly on small fish, but it also consumes crabs, shrimps and squids. It also follows fish boats, in order to eat the debris ejected out of the boat.
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 km2. It has a large global population estimated to be 280,000-310,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Spring arrival in USA in May, fall arrival at wintering range in September-October. Fall migration recorded widely from southern Texas and
Louisiana, central Florida, Caribbean coast of Central America and north
and northeastern South America.
Louisiana, central Florida, Caribbean coast of Central America and north
and northeastern South America.
Distribution map
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