🐦
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
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Least Concern
Wingspan
72.7 cm
Weight
402.3333333333333 g
Family
Laridae
Order
Charadriiformes
About
Royal Tern, 45–50 cm, is a large, powerful tern of American and West African coasts. Orange bill, shaggy black crest (full only briefly in spring), pale grey mantle. Piscivore; plunge-dives from 10 m for mullet and menhaden. Nests in dense colonies; often seen loafing on beaches year-round.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 72.7 cm | 28.6 in |
| Weight | 402.3333333333333 g | 14.19 oz |
Habitat & Range
Conservation Status
Least Concern
IUCN Red List
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 28-35 days. Fledging: 28-35 days.
Clutch Size
1-2
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes (Shorebirds & Gulls) |
| Family | Laridae (Gulls & Terns) |
| Genus | Thalasseus |
| Species | Thalasseus maximus |
Distribution
Royal Tern has been recorded in 5 countries.
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Present
Not recorded
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Royal Tern endangered?
The Royal Tern has a conservation status of Least Concern.
How does the Royal Tern nest?
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 28-35 days. Fledging: 28-35 days.
How big is the Royal Tern?
The Royal Tern has a wingspan of 72.7 cm, weight of 402.3333333333333 g.
What order and family does the Royal Tern belong to?
The Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) belongs to the order Charadriiformes and the family Laridae.
Similar Birds
Other species in the Laridae family
African Skimmer
Rynchops flavirostris
Least Concern
Aleutian Tern
Onychoprion aleuticus
Vulnerable
Andean Gull
Larus serranus
Least Concern
Antarctic Tern
Sterna vittata
Least Concern
Arctic Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
Least Concern
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea
Least Concern
Armenian Gull
Larus armenicus
Least Concern
Atlantic White Tern
Gygis alba
Least Concern