Royal tern

The royal tern is a captivating bird from the Laridae family, easily recognizable by its striking red-orange bill and black cap during the breeding season. In winter, this cap becomes mottled. There are two main subspecies of royal terns, one inhabiting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Americas. These birds are typically found near saltwater, residing in coastal regions of Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean islands. Fortunately, their conservation status is classified as "least concern" indicating stable populations.

First described by Georges-Louis Leclerc, the royal tern now belongs to the genus Thalasseus, with the scientific name Thalasseus maximus. These are large seabirds with pale grey upper parts, white underparts, and an orange-red bill. Their calls are distinctive, short, and clear shrills. These characteristics help differentiate them from similar species.

Royal terns breed along the American coasts, from Virginia to Texas on the east coast and from California to Mexico on the west coast. In winter, they migrate to South America and Africa, with some occasionally straying as far as Western Europe. Their diet primarily consists of fish, crustaceans, and insects, which they catch using various foraging techniques in saltwater environments.

In terms of breeding, royal terns nest on beaches, laying one or two eggs. The parents care for the chicks until they are capable of flight. However, these birds face several threats, including human activities such as fishing, predation by animals, and natural events like high tides that can impact their nesting sites.

Despite these challenges, royal terns are protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water Birds (AEWA). Thanks to their stable population levels, there are currently no significant conservation concerns for this species.