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royal tern

  1. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    These large terns sporting a black crest are common residents along the Texas Coast. Here is a pair mating. Formerly placed in the genus "Sterna."
    • jmorlan
    • Media item
    • royal tern texas thalasseus maximus usa
    • Comments: 1
    • Category: North America
  2. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Large, coastal tern. Several seen loafing on the mudbanks mid-channel while others feeding over the water. (Additional flight shots of this species as requested by Barney!)
    • C B Allen
    • Media item
    • costa rica gulf of nicoya la ensenada lodge puntarenas royal tern thalasseus maximus
    • Comments: 3
    • Category: Central & South America & Mexico
  3. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Large, coastal tern - by far the most dominant tern numerically at this site. Many loafing on the shore/mudbanks while others commuting to the nearby ocean to feed. (Additional flight shots of this species as requested by Barney!)
    • C B Allen
    • Media item
    • colombia la guajira royal tern sff los flamencos thalasseus maximus
    • Comments: 1
    • Category: Central & South America & Mexico
  4. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    By far the most common tern species at this tidal, coastal site with many roosting on the part exposed mud with other smaller tern species and skimmers.
    • C B Allen
    • Media item
    • colombia desembocadura de ciénaga del navío quebrado flight la guajira royal tern sff los flamencos thalasseus maximus
    • Comments: 6
    • Category: Central & South America & Mexico
  5. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) non-breeding plumage.
    • Stanley Jones
    • Media item
    • costa rica la ensenada lodge nicoya bay puntarenas province royal tern thalasseus maximus
    • Comments: 9
    • Category: Central & South America & Mexico
  6. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    These large terns sporting a black crest are common residents along the Texas Coast. This is the nominate race. This species is monotypic. A smaller, slimmer, more yellow billed form breeding in West Africa has now been split into a separate species called "West African Crested Tern". Formerly...
    • jmorlan
    • Media item
    • royal tern texas thalasseus maximus usa
    • Comments: 3
    • Category: North America
  7. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
    • Stanley Jones
    • Media item
    • galveston county galveston island jamaica beach royal tern san luis pass texas thalasseus maximus usa
    • Comments: 9
    • Category: North America
  8. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Credit goes to Kellen Apuna who originally found this rarity on 20 November. These large terns have a white forehead and crown in non-breeding plumage but they sport a black crest at all seasons. Note the larger, straighter bill compared to the similar Elegant Tern behind. This Royal Tern is an...
    • jmorlan
    • Media item
    • california royal tern thalasseus maximus usa
    • Comments: 3
    • Category: North America
  9. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
    • Stanley Jones
    • Media item
    • cameron county royal tern south padre island texas thalasseus maximus usa
    • Comments: 10
    • Category: North America
  10. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
    • Stanley Jones
    • Media item
    • cameron county royal tern south padre island texas thalasseus maximus usa
    • Comments: 12
    • Category: North America
  11. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
    • Stanley Jones
    • Media item
    • cameron county royal tern south padre island texas thalasseus maximus usa
    • Comments: 11
    • Category: North America
  12. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    On river bank with Caspian Terns
    • hindleygreener
    • Media item
    • royal tern thalasseus albididorsalis
    • Comments: 3
    • Category: Africa
  13. What's up doc?

    What's up doc?

    A couple of Royal Terns
    • tetoneon
    • Media item
    • royal tern sterna maxima
    • Comments: 9
    • Category: North America
  14. Check out the ghost fish on the left......

    Check out the ghost fish on the left......

    I never saw that fish jump out.
    • tetoneon
    • Media item
    • royal tern sterna maxima
    • Comments: 10
    • Category: North America
  15. Shrimp for lunch!

    Shrimp for lunch!

    A Royal Tern I believe, taken on a beautiful day.
    • tetoneon
    • Media item
    • 1dt flight royal tern sterna maxima
    • Comments: 10
    • Category: North America
  16. 1B599DEF-2F51-401C-85D6-D8072D90A926.jpeg

    1B599DEF-2F51-401C-85D6-D8072D90A926.jpeg

    3 Royal Terns form a triumvirate to rule the southern beaches of Sanibel Island. Genuinely looks like they are taking in the sun and enjoying the water just as people were.
    • MTBirding98
    • Media item
    • beach florida royal tern royalty
    • Comments: 2
    • Category: North America
  17. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    A flyby at the beach
    • tetoneon
    • Media item
    • flight royal tern south carolina sterna maxima
    • Comments: 12
    • Category: North America
  18. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    These large terns sporting a black crest are common residents along the Texas Coast. Here is a pair mating. Formerly placed in the genus "Sterna."
    • jmorlan
    • Media item
    • royal tern texas thalasseus maximus usa
    • Comments: 5
    • Category: North America
  19. Royal Tern.jpg

    Royal Tern.jpg

    Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus maximus)
    • Stanley Jones
    • Media item
    • flight galveston island jamaica beach royal tern san luis pass texas thalasseus maximus maximus usa
    • Comments: 12
    • Category: North America
  20. Sunset with Tern, Pelican, and Dolphin

    Sunset with Tern, Pelican, and Dolphin

    One of those days where you stay out on the water until the last minute.
    • IDidiot
    • Media item
    • brown pelican florida kayaking multi-species pelecanus occidentalis pelican royal tern tern thalasseus maximus
    • Comments: 3
    • Category: North America
  21. Evening Flight of Royal Tern

    Evening Flight of Royal Tern

    We were at the beach around sunset with lots of clouds when a group of Royal Tern arrived (even though only one is included here).
    • njlarsen
    • Media item
    • barbados pile bay royal tern thalasseus maximus
    • Comments: 2
    • Category: The Caribbean
  22. Royal Tern.JPG

    Royal Tern.JPG

    At SEA SEVERAL FEEDING DAILY
    • hindleygreener
    • Media item
    • cuba jibacoa royal tern thalasseus maximus
    • Comments: 3
    • Category: The Caribbean
  23. Royal-Terns.jpg

    Royal-Terns.jpg

    It reminded me of a family where little brother was telling on his sibling. Taken on the beach at the day after witnessing a Falcon 9 blast off in an evening shot. (It was SO FUN to photograph the launch.)
    • IDidiot
    • Media item
    • beach florida royal tern tern thalasseus maximus
    • Comments: 6
    • Category: North America
  24. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    Seen Daily
    • hindleygreener
    • Media item
    • royal tern
    • Comments: 4
    • Category: Central & South America & Mexico
  25. Royal Tern

    Royal Tern

    A Royal Tern in flight, Carova Beach, NC.
    • PineRiver
    • Media item
    • beach nc royal tern shorebirds
    • Comments: 7
    • Category: North America
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